60,000 register with the Okwahuman Health Insurance Scheme

Nkawkaw (E/R), Sept. 9, GNA - The Okwahuman Mutual Health Insurance Scheme has registered 60,302 members in the Kwahu West and South districts, representing 26.2 per cent of the population of the two districts as at the end of August this year.

The scheme generated 2.1 billion cedis through premiums paid by members of the scheme in the informal sector, while the National Health Insurance Council supported the scheme with 4.67 billion cedis during the 2005/2006 insurance year.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Scheme, Nana Adarkwa Boadi Yiadom II, Kwahu Prasohene, announce this at the fifth annual general meeting of the Scheme at Nkawkaw on Thursday. He said for the 2005/2006 insurance year, a total of 5.6 billion cedis was paid as claims to its service providers, out of which 2.1 billion cedis and 3.5 billion cedis was paid for inpatients and Out Patients Department services respectively.

The Board Chairman said, to make health care accessible to its members, the Scheme had signed contract with Begoro Government Hospital and the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital for its members from New Oworobong, Kwahu Amanfrom and Onyemso to access health care and specialize eye care services on referral.

He commended the Green Tropics Group, an NGO, United Nation International Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Kwahuhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, for spending over 57 million cedis to settle the premium for over 900 needy and orphans in the two districts. Nana Yiadom said, following the creation of the Kwahu West District, the board had decided to split the scheme into two to be known as Okwahuman South and West Mutual Health Insurance Scheme to make it closer and more accessible to the people.

He appealed to the two district assemblies, NGOS and the National Insurance Council for vehicle and other logistics for the scheme to reach out to the people in remote areas.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Susana Mensah said though previous governments made efforts to introduce the scheme, it was the New Patriotic Party Government, which got the will power to implement it to ensure affordable health care for the people.

She said the current registration of 26.2 per cent of the population of the area covered by the scheme was not encouraging and appealed to traditional rulers, Assembly Members, Pastors/Imams and other service providers to educate the people to register for the scheme to achieve the national target of 50 per cent within the shortest possible time.

She advised members of the scheme not to abuse it, since this could threaten the sustainability of the scheme.

The Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira, commended the Okwahuman Health Insurance Scheme for registering 26.2 per cent of the population of the area covered by the scheme as against the 47 per cent by Asuogyaman Health Insurance Scheme. He appealed to organized groups such as the market women association, GPRTU, Dressmakers and Hairdressers to educate their members to register with the various mutual health insurance schemes in the region for them to get access to affordable health care to help improve the health needs of their people.

Nana Onini Afare I, Aduamoahene and the Benkumhene of Kwahu traditional area, who chaired the function, said the scheme had come, as a relief to all Ghanaians to improve their health needs. He, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders of the scheme to co-operate and support it to enhance the health needs of the people.