Sunyani, July 19, GNA - Alhaji Dr Bin Ibrahim Mohammed, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, has said the National Health Insurance Scheme would start operating in the region on August 01.

''All the 19 municipals and districts are equipped with logistics and facilities for the scheme's take off,'' he said at a meeting in Sunyani on Monday.

Municipal and District directors of Health Service, Presiding and Assembly members as well as health providers in the district were at the meeting.

Alhaji Dr Mohammed stressed the need for a contractual agreement between the Ghana Health Service, health providers and health insurance organizations for the provision of quality health delivery to insured clients.

"The contractual agreement will also help break the strike syndrome in health institutions to enhance quality health care in the country", he said.

With regard to referrals, Alhaji Dr Mohammed said the country would come to a uniform tariff networking to ensure that insured clients are treated equally in all health institutions running the scheme. Accredited pharmaceutical shops would also be available to supplement the health institutions with drugs.

He said Municipal and District Chief executives would monitor the operation of the scheme to ensure that health providers protect the interests of clients.

The Brong Ahafo Region recorded 503,204 persons and premiums paid amounted to 13,662,500 cedis.