Upper West Minister commends pioneers of the UWRCSMHIS

Wa, July 1, GNA - Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, Upper West Regional Minister has commended pioneers of the Upper West Regional Civil Servants Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (UWRCSMHIS) for their relentless efforts in initiating and sustaining the Scheme since its inception in 2005.

He said the Scheme was not only the first to be initiated but also currently the only surviving one in the whole country after other regions had tried and collapsed theirs.

Alhaji Saliah gave the commendation at the Scheme's second Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Wa on Thursday.

The Regional Minister said although the Scheme was started with a government grant, it was now being sustained through premium paid by members.

He appealed to the current managers of the Scheme to expand its membership in order to rake in more contributions for its sustenance.

Alhaji Saliah also called for a periodic review of coverage of ailments and the type of treatment that the Scheme covered as well as the premium paid by members.

This, he noted, would enhance transparency and efficiency and avoid suspicion and mistrust.

He urged members to show more interest in the functioning of the Scheme by attending meetings and offering meaningful suggestions to improve on the operations of the Scheme rather than just contributing and sitting on the fence.

He said government was aware of the important contributions of civil servants and health workers to the development of the country and assured them that government would do its best to implement the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) as a necessary step to make conditions better for them.

Mr John Matthew Ayaga, Board Chairman of the Scheme said the since its inception in 2005, the Scheme had registered a total of 3,204 contributing members.

He said so far the Scheme expended a total of GH¢16,256.65 to settle bills with service providers at various health institutions.

Mr Ayaga noted that the Scheme had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kole-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Duayaw Nkwanta Hospital and the Neurosurgeon in Nandom Hospital to enable their members to go for special treatment whenever the need arose.

He, however, complained that the Scheme was faced with challenges such as the lack of office accommodation and transportation among others.