Obuasi, Sept 1, GNA- The Neighbourhood Hospital in the Obuasi Municipality, has been suspended from operating the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), for alleged unacceptable clinical practices. Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Ashanti Regional Minister and acting Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who announced this at the general meeting of the assembly, said "as part of disciplinary measures, the Board of Directors of the scheme has suspended Neighbourhood Hospital from operating the scheme as a result of its unacceptable clinical practices".

He called on Ghanaians to assist in the implementation of the scheme to ensure its sustainability.

Mr Owusu-Ansah called on the people to avoid fraudulent deals to consolidate gains so far made under the scheme. He said as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality, government had introduced free health care for all pregnant women. Mr Owusu-Ansah said under the scheme, government had developed a national identity cards system whereby all identity cards would be sent to Accra for printing and handed over to the districts while the database remained in Accra.

He explained that "Members will still be able to access free quality health care with the issuance of a note from the scheme offices attached to the old cards in the case of renewals".