Health Scheme manager commends people of Tain

Nsawkaw (B/A) Nov. 5, GNA - Mr. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Manager of Tain District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Brong-Ahafo has commended the people for their impressive patronage of the scheme. He told the Ghana News Agency that 21,270 people had registered with the scheme this year as against 11,141 people in the previous year. Total premium paid by clients was 741 million cedis. The scheme has received 1.8 billion cedis support from the National Health Insurance Council, DANIDA, and the district assembly. Mr. Sarpong said 18,898 clients accessed health care at the various health facilities and the scheme paid 1.4 billion cedis in medical bills.

He said the scheme operates with 12 health facilities and four accredited chemical stores as well as six referral hospitals outside the district.

Mr Sarpong said the major problem that faced the scheme was lack of a hospital in the district and all referral cases have had to be sent outside the district. Mr. Sarpong noted with regret that officials of the scheme operated in a rented accommodation and appealed to the National Health Insurance Council to provide permanent accommodation equipped with computers. He said most people in the area could not afford paying the premium and appealed to the district assembly to consider their plight and allocate part of the common fund to cover the vulnerable and marginalized under the scheme. 05 Nov 07