NHIS officials advised to avoid politicising scheme

Nkoranza (B/A), April 28, GNA - Mr. Kwame Gyedu, Nkoranza South District Co-ordinating Director, has advised officials of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to avoid politicising the scheme to enhance its patronage. He said "In spite of the change of government, the scheme continues unabated, so you should not allow your political affiliations to affect your work since the scheme was introduced to ensure the well-being of all Ghanaians". Mr. Nuako, who is also acting board chairman of Nkoranza South District NHIS, was addressing field workers of the scheme, at a day's orientation workshop at Nkoranza. He urged all Ghanaians to register with the scheme, adding that it was the most important intervention that had made health care delivery affordable to the people, irrespective of their status. Mr. Nuako said the development of every nation depended on the health of its people and Ghana could not hope for a bright future should the scheme collapse. Mr. Stephen Opoku Brobbey, manager of the district NHIS, commended the field workers for their hard work, which he said had brought remarkable improvement in the operations of the scheme. He said about 85,489 people registered with the scheme in 2008 as against 65,000 persons in 2007. Mr. Brobbey said the district scheme had paid a total of GHC 1,752,220.56, covering medical bills of 167,388 members to health institutions. He advised the workers to educate the people about the importance of the scheme to increase its membership. Mr. Samuel Adu-Poku, Public Relations Officer of the district scheme, asked the workers to promptly deposit fees they would collect from clients at the bank.