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The Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana on Thursday asked the Government to clear the indebtedness to the sector before supporting it with a stimulus package.

“It does not make business sense to owe a client for which there is no interest component and turn back to propose a loan to that same client and charge him interest,” the Association said.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Frank Torblu Boakye Donkor, the General Secretary of the Association, said the Government owed health providers more than nine months claims and that in the case of a single provider, an average amount of GHC500,000 was owed.

“Government has failed on its promise to pay claims regularly, but turn around to come up with stimulus package at an interest rate,” it said.

The statement said the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had not paid the health providers making it difficult for them to operate.

It said the private facilities lacked Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) though government health facilities had been adequately supported.

The Association, therefore, urged the Government through the Ministry of Health, NHIA and all stakeholders to treat the issues with utmost urgency.

The statement said for the private sector to remain in business, the public and NHIS cardholders should carry cash alongside their cards to meet the cost of any service that the private health facilities may not be able to provide based on the NHIS.