Subscribers of Ghana’s National Health Insurance (NHIS) will now have to pay for the cost of dressing and minor stitching of their wounds.
The situation has compelled the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga to introduce cash-and-carry system for wound dressing and minor stitching at the facility.
A notice by the Hospital authorities dated September 2 and sighted by 3news.com said patients requiring wound dressing and minor stitching services would have to pay 50 cedis each per procedure.
“Where anaesthesia will be required, an additional GHC20 will be paid” by the patient, the notice added.
The notice explained that the National Health insurance Authority “will no longer pay for dressing and minor suturing (stitching of wounds)”.
“Therefore, with immediate effect, all procedures relating to dressing and minor suturing will have to be paid for by cash before the procedure is performed,” the notice read.
It said the situation would remain in force until otherwise communicated by the National Health Insurance Authority.