Koforidua, Dec. 18, GNA - The New Juaben Municipal Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (NJMHIS), has registered 102,348 persons out the targeted population of 136,469 in the Koforidua Township. The scheme has also collected GH¢ 741,017 as premium from registered members since its inception in 2004 and paid medical claims totalling GH¢ 5,263,093 as of May this year.

Nana Kwame Oppong Owusu III, The Chairman of the scheme announced these at the 2008 annual general meeting of the scheme, in Koforidua. He said the scheme had engaged 35 accredited health facilities in the municipality to provide health care to beneficiaries of the scheme. Nana Owusu said new identity cards introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority would help check fraud in the scheme. He called on the government to consider establishing a district hospital or polyclinic in addition to the Koforidua Regional Hospital. In an address read on his behalf, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, said the National Health Insurance Scheme was aimed at reducing poverty and remained the "best and most secure and affordable social welfare packages".

He said although there had been some challenges, such as the skills needed in managing viable health financing transactions, government was counting on health professionals to make the scheme beneficial to the people.