Accra, Oct. 30, GNA - The Ministry of Finance has approved an amount of 18.9 billion cedis for immediate disbursement to the Ministry of Health for the establishment of 45 additional district-wide Health Insurance Schemes.

The approval marks the second phase of the district-wide Mutual Health Insurance Scheme.

A release from the Ministry of Health on Thursday, signed by S. Owusu Agyei, Chief Director, for the Sector Minister, said the new districts were: Tema Municipality in the Greater Accra Region; Birim North, East Akim, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Fanteakwa, Akwapim South and Afram Plains in the Eastern Region.

Other districts were Wassa West, Wassa Amenfi, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Aowin-Suaman, Jomoro and Ahanta West in the Western Region; Bole, East Gonja, Savelugu-Nanton and East Mamprusi in the Northern Region and Bongo, Bolgatanga and Bawku East in the Upper East Region.

The rest of the districts were Jirapa-Lambussie, Nadowli and Lawra in the Upper West Region; Kpando, Krachi, Keta, Jasikan and North Tongu in the Volta Region; Offinso, Kwabre, Sekyere West, Amansie West and Adansi in the Ashanti Region; Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Twifo Hemang-Lower Denkyira, Upper Denkyira, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa and Mfantsiman in the Central Region; as well as Sunyani, Techiman, Berekum, Asunafo and Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Some sub-metropolitan areas were also included in the proposed second phase of development of district-wide mutual health insurance schemes. These sub-metropolitan areas were Shama, Sekondi, Ablekuma, Ashiedu Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso, Okaikoi, Bantama, Subin and Asokwa.