The public have been advised against throwing away their old National Health Insurance (NHIS) cards as it would run alongside the newly introduced biometric card.

Mr. Alexander Odoi Nartey, Deputy Chief Executive in-charge of Finance and Investment, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said the old cards were still valid and acceptable by any service provider until the five-year tenure expires.

The NHIA is currently registering clients for the biometric health Insurance cards in the Greater Accra, Central and Eastern Regions and hope to extend the exercise to the rest of the regions by December 2014.

Mr. Nartey made this known at a Regional Staff durbar at Takoradi in the Western region and urged staff of the organisation to educate clients on the process to avoid a mad rush at registration points.

The Head of Finance and Investment said the Authority was also scaling up the capitation of the scheme to improve the electronic-claims to ensure efficiency.

Mr. Nartey asked various managers of the scheme to popularize the call centres to ensure effective public engagement.

Mr. Winfred Agbeibor, Director, Corporate Affairs of the Scheme said the re-branding of the authority called for a united effort in administering healthcare services to clients.