The National Diabetes Association of Ghana has cautioned pharmacy and chemical shop operators to desist from demanding “top up” from diabetic patients before giving them their prescribed drugs under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

According to Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, President of the Association, NHIS did not request co-payment or top-up from diabetic patients and that pharmacies and chemical shop operators should cooperate to ensure the smooth running of the scheme.

Mrs. Denyoh made the appeal when she inaugurated the Central Regional Branch of the Association at Cape Coast.

She underscored the importance of knowing one’s status and that in view of this, plans were afoot to screen students in second cycle institutions to enable them know their status.

She urged all diabetic patients in the Region to join the Association since its survival and growth was dependent on support from members.

Mrs. Nancy Abbiw, the Regional President disclosed that the Region was leading in Ghana with about 360 patients seeking health care at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and other health facilities in the Region.

She said the topping up of drugs made the management of the disease difficult and appealed to Government to intervene.

She expressed gratitude to the NHIS for its support.

Dr. Salifu Bawa, a Senior Medical Officer, stressed that though the chronic disease was not curable, it could be managed and urged patients to always comply with their doctors’ advice.