NHIS and medical facility biker over non remittance of contributory health fees by United Comprehensive Health Managers Ltd

A patient covered by “wise health”, a product of the National Health Insurance Scheme, in critical condition was initially denied admission by Faith Foundation Clinic and maternity, a private medical facility in Calabar on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

She was eventually admitted and attended to by medics of the clinic after N40,000 was deposited by her family.

Mrs. Agbo Bassey Emmanuel (Nee Agbo Ekong Bassey) was reported to have been rushed to the hospital intensive care unit for treatment of acute malaria, typhoid fever and very high count blood pressure but was rebuffed by official at the front office who said they can neither attend to, nor admit her because United Comprehensive Health Manager Ltd under “WISE HEALTH” of NHIS has not been remitting contributions to the hospital for patients in their scheme.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a staff advised the patient’s family to make a down payment of N50,000.00 (Fifty thousand Naira) which was negotiated down to N40,000 and after payment, she was admitted and attended to by the emergency medical personnel on duty around 9.00pm Wednesday.

A visit to NHIS on Friday December 1, 2023 along Atekong Drive in Calabar by a LENS Reporter revealed a frosty relationship between the service provider and United Comprehensive Health Managers Ltd whom they accused of reneging in remitting to them monies deducted at source from the contributory health scheme from staff salary for over 20 years in the University of Calabar where the patient is a senior staff.

And responding to enquiry from the reporter, an NHIS staff who spoke on condition of anonymity asked the patient’s spouse to write an application for refund of the deposit paid to the hospital and bring it to the office for appropriate attention.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)