Eastern Region registers 329,995 people under the NHIS

Somanya,(E/R) July 30, GNA- The Eastern Region has so far registered a total of 329,995 people under the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) and collected a total of over 5.806 billion cedis premium with the Kwahu South and West Districts contributing 1.6 billion cedis of the amount. Out of the 17 districts in the region Mutual Health Insurance Schemes in 15 districts are implementing the health benefits and the remaining two districts, Birim South and Yilo Krobo are to start implementation by August 1, this year. This was announced by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah in an address read on his behalf at the launching of the Yilo Krobo District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme(YKMHIS) at Somanya on Thursday.

Mr Barimah said the achievement of the NHIS could be attributed to the hard work and collaborative effort of all key stakeholders including the health partners and therefore stress the need for all to help sustain the Scheme. The Acting District Chief Executive, Sub/Lt. Christian Tettey said the assemble was doing all it could to make the people benefit from the scheme saying that plans were far advanced to construct a Polyclinic in the district in addition to the 22 prospective health providers to take care of the people under the scheme. He said the YKMHIS has so far collected over 64 million cedis from a total of 5,012 members comprising 1,316 SSNIT contributors, 134 SSNIT pensioners, 150 indigents, 102 of people above 70 years and 2,424 below the ages of 18.

The Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira in a speech read on his behalf bemoan the frivolous use of the scheme by people who think they have insured themselves and need to use the scheme any how. He said currently, there is a programme under-way by the Regional NHIS Action Team to sensitise and educate all health staff and that the needed structures to adequately handle the anticipated increase in workload and challenges were being work out.