DMHIS paid 42.6 million cedis on behalf of 878 registered members

Tepa (Ash), Feb. 23, GNA - The Ahafo-Ano North District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS) paid 42.6 million cedis as minimum benefit package on behalf of its 878 registered members who attended six health facilities within the first three months of its operation. Nana Eric Agyeman-Prempeh, the District Chief Executive, disclosed this in his sessional address to the ordinary meeting of the district assembly at Tepa on Tuesday.

He asked assembly members to join the crusade in explaining the importance of the scheme to the people and to disabuse the minds of the 'Doubting Thomas's' to know that the scheme has come to stay. The DCE assured those who have registered with the scheme that in the event of sickness, they would not be disappointed and encouraged those who have not as yet registered to do so in order not to regret in time of sickness.

He said, as at November last year when the scheme became operational, 4,152 people aged between 18-19 out of the 9,963 registered members had paid 209.2 million cedis as premium.

Mrs. Elizabeth Adentwi, the acting District Director of Health Services, disclosed that for sometime now monies meant for payments for exemption patients like the aged, children below five years as well as pre and post natal attendants have ceased coming and assumed that this may be due to the introduction of the DMHIS.

She has for this reason advised people to join the scheme to avoid the out-of-pocket payment for health care at the point of service delivery.

Mrs. Adentwi said this in reaction to an assemblyman who wanted to know why people in his electoral area who are in the exemption category pay for health care delivery.