Koforidua, Sept 12, GNA- The Deputy Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang, has said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have minimal roles to play in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He said the role of the Ghana Health Service is to provide good quality and efficient service to be paid for.

Dr Tinkorang, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Koforidua, said the implementation and management of the scheme require a multi-sector approach that the district assemblies are best structured for.

He said the implementation of the Scheme will help eliminate corruption at the health facilities since all monies, which illegally end up in individual pockets, will be stopped for more money to be raised to better remunerate health personnel.

Dr Tinkorang said the Scheme will also enable the health authorities to use the facilities to raise more money to provide better equipment and logistic support to encourage more young doctors and other health staff to stay and work in the country.

He said the payment of uniform prices for service rendered will encourage some private hospitals to also become service providers to increase the number of service points.

Dr Tinkorang said the Health Service in the Eastern Region is working on the cost of treatment of a patient to be able to come out with a standardised rate for all health facilities in the region.

Surinamese pay 'homecoming visit' to Elmina

Elmina (C/R), Sept 12, GNA- A delegation of 102 Surinamese, on a 'home-coming visit', were on Friday honoured at a grand durbar at the Elmina Castle.

The Surinamese Minister of Transport and Communication, Mr Guno Castelen and the Minister of Regional Integration, Mr Romeo Van Russel, are leading the delegation that is made up of businessmen and entrepreneurs.

The visitors are to "reconnect with their roots and to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. They were served with mashed yam with boiled eggs and were taken through the slave dungeons of the castle, as part of the welcome ceremony.

In an address read for him the District Chief Executive for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Nana Ato Arthur, reminded Africans in the Diaspora to share their expertises with Ghanaians and to invest in the country.

"As brothers and sisters you should find time to return to your roots and share your experience and achievements with us", he said. Nana Arthur briefed the delegation about a cultural heritage and management programme being initiated to facilitate the development of the district and called on the private sector, traditional councils, sister-city linkages, especially those in the Diaspora, to help in its implementation.

Mr Van Russel, a member of the delegation, thanked the people of Elmina for the warm reception and said Surinamese and Ghanaians are the same, but divided as a result of slavery.

He said the delegation will build and strengthen the new linkage it has recovered and ensure that it yields positive results for the two countries.

Nana Kodwo Condua VI, Omanhene of Edina Traditional Area, described the visit as a "spiritual and family reunion" that should serve as an avenue for the unification of Africans on the continent and those in the Diaspora.