New Edubiase (Ash), Sept.14, GNA - People who registered with the Adansi South District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) have started enjoying free medical care.

At least, 20 people have so far received free medical care under the Scheme which took off on August 1, this year.

Mr Richmond Sarkodie, the Scheme Manager announced this on Wednesday when he took the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to visit one of the scheme beneficiaries, 35-year old Celestina Awuah, on admission at the New Edubiase District Hospital after undergoing surgical operation for ovarian cyst and fibroid.

"I would have gone for a loan and later do some menial jobs to repay but because of the Scheme, I have not paid a pesewa", Ms Awuah, who looked cheerful told the GNA at her bedside. Mr Sarkodie said over 700 registered people had been provided with their identity cards whilst printing of additional cards were on-going to meet the 27,000 people who had so far registered with the Scheme. He said since the launching and take off of the Scheme, there had been an increase in the registration: "We hope to get more of the people into the Scheme during the main cocoa season because the area is predominantly cocoa growing area."

Mr Sarkodie said the Scheme had entered into an agreement with health facilities at New Edubiase, Akrofuom, Ataase Nkwantta and Asokwa to enable registered persons have access to free medical care. The Scheme Manager said the signing of contracts with other health facilities at Bodwesango, Ampunyase and Akutreso to enable more people have access to free medical care in the district was yet to be concluded.

He advised people ready to register with the Scheme not to hesitate and appealed to those who had made part-payment of their premiums to complete payment to enable them receive their identity cards.

Mr Sarkodie expressed concern about people in the formal sector who were yet to fill their forms and urged them to quicken up. Dr Samuel Mensah, Medical officer at the New Edubiase District Hospital said the scheme covered all the expenses for Ms Awuah's operation and week-long admission, stressing "the scheme is really working.

"It is amazing that after paying a premium of 100,000 cedis, Ms Awuah had access to free medical care estimated at over two million cedis", Dr Mensah said.