Patients at the Bibiani Government Hospital in the Western North Region are appealing to the Ministry of Health to expand the list of medicines covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
They lament that many essential drugs prescribed to them are excluded from the scheme, forcing them to purchase from private pharmacies at high costs.
According to them, this situation has increased their financial burden and affected access to quality healthcare.
Hospital authorities have confirmed the challenge and joined calls for a review of the NHIS drug policy.
One patient expressed frustration, saying, “When you go to the hospitals, there are some medicines that the NHIS does not cover. We are therefore pleading for an increase in the insurance package. In some cases, there are illnesses that require very expensive medicines, but because the insurance does not cover them, we are given cheaper alternatives that are not as effective.
“At the end of the day, after taking those medicines, they do not achieve the desired results. We are therefore pleading with you to improve the insurance package for us, as that would be of great help.”
Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh responded to the concerns and encouraged patients to trust the prescriptions given by medical officers.
“Do not think that when you visit the hospital and the doctor prescribes medicine, it will not work,” he said.
“The doctor is the one who understands your condition and knows the right treatment for you. If the medicine prescribed is not covered by the NHIS, the doctor will let you know so you can purchase it. No doctor will deliberately give you medicine that will not help you. So, kindly put away that perception.”