AN EVALUATION OF ACCOUNTING PRACTICES OF THE SUNYANI MUNICIPAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME

Abstract

This research project sought to evaluate the accounting practices of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme. The scheme has not been able to provide the general public with the needed information on matters concerning their finances. Due to this, a lot of voices have been raised against the scheme on the grounds that there is no proper accountability; that is, they lack proper accounting practices for running their activities. In view of this, there was the need provide information to stakeholders on what goes on in the scheme, to examine the accessibility of the scheme's financial statements by its stakeholders, the internal control systems established in the scheme in the areas of cash disbursement, and to examine the fmancial strength of the scheme. To achieve this, descriptive research design was used to obtain information from Seventy-five participants sampled through purposive sampling and with the aid of questionnaires. The data obtained was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics including frequency and measures of central tendency. The study revealed that the scheme has really tried as much as possible to uphold the accounting practices and matters in connection with the running of the outfit successfully. However, the delay, in the payment of the providers and lack of proper apportionment of the cost claims are the major challenges facing the scheme. The following recommendations were suggested for the scheme: there should be appropriate steps to enroll the stakeholders in the scheme's budget preparations, the NHIS should take bold steps to wean the scheme's account off the Consolidated Fund and put in place a system that can earn them the opportunity to own their account and tap the funds from the main source.