Front view of Peekay Gombi Pharmaceutical
One of the biggest health insurance service providers in Tamale, Peekay Gombi Pharmaceutical, has suspended services over a GH¢2million debt owed by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The pharmacy has not been paid its claims for the past 12 months for services rendered to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in the region.
Information available revealed that the pharmacy receives more than 500 customers in a day and the situation has affected many health cardholders.
Peekay is not alone in this NHIA arrears brouhaha, but many other service providers as well, contrary to claims by President John Mahama that the service is doing well.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peekay Gombi Pharmaceutical, Alhaji Ibrahim Rauf, told DAILY GUIDE that the claims he submitted to the NHIA amounted to GH¢2million from 2015 to 2016 have not yet been paid.
According to him, the situation forced him to suspend the services because he owes his suppliers so much that they have refused to provide him with drugs which have affected healthcare delivery at the pharmacy.
Out of the 16 companies, Alhaji Rauf mentioned that he owes Ernest Chemist, Tobinco and Rena Chemist an amount of GH¢250,000.
He denied the allegation by NHIS officers that his decision to suspend the service is politically-motivated, adding that in business there is nothing like politics.
“I know I will suffer it since I stopped the service but trust me, I’ve been pushed to the wall that’s why I took this decision and if they are saying it’s politics no politician will come and pay for any expired drugs here so my decision has nothing to do with politics,” he stated.
Alhaji Rauf added that since he started the cash-and-carry system, business has been good so far because customers pay cash.
Efforts to reach authorities of the NHIA in the Northern Region proved futile.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale