Bibiani (W/R), Sept 25, GNA - The implementation of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme has led to an increased attendance at health facilities in the area. At the Bibiani Government Hospital for example, attendance is said to have tripled over the last two months leading to serious over crowding particularly at the Children's Ward.

Mr Kingsley Adjei-Manu, District Chief Executive, said this was putting severe strain on the hospital's facilities, adding, both the medical staff and patients were now "spending more man-hours to deliver and receive care".

He said he has reason to believe that many of those attending the hospital may not be actually sick but would want to test the genuineness of the claim that card-holding members of the scheme would receive free treatment and medication.

The District Chief Executive appealed to subscribers of the Scheme to go to the health facilities only when they were ill to help reduce the present state of over crowding.

He said the District Assembly was discussing with the District Health Directorate the possibility of expanding the infrastructure at the District Hospital, Health Centres and Clinics in the area to contain the situation.

A total of 35,000 people from both the formal and informal sectors have subscribed to the scheme in the district and since, July this year, when it became operational, it had paid the medical bills of 2,505 card-holding members, which came up to 180 million cedis. Premiums collected for the scheme stood at 880 million cedis.