Asamankese, May 9, GNA- The West Akyem Mutual Health Insurance Scheme is making progress and impacting positively on the lives of the people, the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Mr Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye has observed.

He said 38 per cent of the people were covered by the scheme and more people were registering as members. Mr Sintim-Aboagye was speaking at a meeting of the municipal assembly at Asamankese on Friday, said a total of 3,686 people, considered to be very poor and vulnerable, were also registered free of charge.

He said as at the end of March, the total membership of the scheme stood at 64,873 and 42,463 had renewed their membership. Mr Sintim-Aboagye announced that the total premium received as at the end of March this year stood at 251,589 Ghana cedis. He noted that the introduction of facility attendance card in January had led to an astonishing reduction in bills presented to the scheme for payment by service providers.

Mr Sintim-Aboagye said in December 2007, a total of 67,651 Ghana cedis, eighty-six Ghana pesewas were presented as bills from service providers to the scheme for payment

He said in January, this year, after the introduction of the facility attendance card, a total of 57,198 Ghana cedis, eight Ghana pesewas were received as bills from the service providers. Mr Sintim-Aboagye commended management and the board of the scheme for introducing the card, which had helped to check fraud from clients. 9 May 08