Wenchi District Health Insurance pounces on Assembly... For full payment of the scheme`s start-up capital

THE BOARD Chairman of the Wenchi District Health Insurance Scheme, Nana Antwi Nuamah has called on the Wenchi District Assembly to as a matter of urgency release the remaining ¢239 million which was part of the money given to the Scheme as start-up capital.

According to Nana Nuamah, during the inception of the Scheme, the National Health Insurance Council gave the Scheme ¢300million as start-up capital through the Assembly, but the Assembly released only ¢61million to the Scheme.

The Board Chairman made this known at the General Assembly Meeting of the Scheme at Wenchi in Brong Ahafo.

The Scheme Manager of the Wenchi District Health Insurance, Vincent Arthur on his part noted that the major challenge facing the Scheme in the country was the delay in the release of funds by the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC).

According to Mr. Arthur, the delay in release of funds has resulted in the delay of payment to service providers therefore affecting the smooth running of the Scheme at the District levels.

The Scheme Manager appealed to the NHIC to release funds on time to engender efficiency at the district levels.

He said in an attempt to control the multiple attendances to hospitals by clients, the scheme has introduced Health facility attendance card to its clients, which according to him has helped reduce attendance.

Mr. Arthur disclosed that total attendance dropped from 7987 in November last year to 5,262 in December.

He mentioned inadequate health facilities in the district as another major problem facing the scheme.
The Public Relations Officer of the scheme, Kwadwo Owusu Agyemang, announced that the scheme has registered 38,663 people out of the total population of 93,000.

He appealed to those who have not registered with the scheme to do so in order to have access to affordable and quality healthcare.