Dzodze (V/R), Dec. 19, GNA - Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, Minister of Health a= t the weekend gave the assurance that in 2011 claims of all service providers under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would be reimbursed. He said the perceived discrimination against some service providers in the claims management of the NHIS would therefore be a thing of the past. Dr Kunbuor was addressing the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Saint Anthony's Hospital, a Catholic Health facility, at Dzodze in the Ketu Nor= th District.

The anniversary was on the theme: 93Saint Anthony's Hospital, 50 Ye= ars of Sharing in Christ Healing Ministry: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward." Dr Kunbuor said government highly recognised the role of the Catholic Mission and other players in the healthcare delivery in the country, particularly in underserved areas. He expressed the need for Ghana to play up preventive health rather than health delivery programmes to create a buffer between the people and diseases. Dr William Gyau Dwamena, Medical Superintendent, said the hospital, which was founded in December 1960, with a staff of six, had expanded over the years and currently provided orthopaedic, trauma, urology and physiotherapy services in addition to the mainline services.

He said clients of the 172-bed facility which extends to Togo and Benin, had a staff of 159 including four doctors.

Dr Dwamena said the hospital which had won several awards including th= e best Volta Regional and National Mission Hospital planned building more facilities and a new administration block. Bishop Anthony Adanuty, of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese of the Catholic Church urged the staff to strictly practice their profession with the passion which Christ treated the sick and suffering in his healing ministry= .. Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister in a speech read on his behalf commended the efforts of the hospital in delivering the best service= s particularly in rural areas.