Wenchi(B/A), July 19, GNA - Dr. Simon Saku, Medical practitioner in-charge of Emil Memorial Clinic, a private health facility at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region has commended Government for the establishment of the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). He said the Scheme had offered great opportunity to the citizenry both the rich or the poor to access better health care delivery at an affordable cost.

Making the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wenchi, Dr. Saku said attendance of patients at his clinic had increased tremendously since they operated under the scheme this year. Giving statistics, he said between March and June, 4,258 patients and clients of the scheme received attention from the clinic made up of 274 in-patients and 3,984 outpatients.

Dr. Saku said the daily record attendance of the patients had increased over 100 per cent because before the clinic operated under the scheme the daily attendance was between 25 to 30 patients, but currently over 100 patients daily.

The clinic attended to 35 in-patients and 687 out-patients totalling 722 in March this year, 67 in-patients and 853 out-patients making a total of 920 in April, while in May 96 in-patients and 1204 out-patients with a total of 1,300 was recorded and in June, 76 in-patients and 1,240 out-patients making a total of 1,316 was recorded. Dr. Saku expressed appreciation for the regular visit to the clinic by diabetic and hypertension patients to seek advice and medical attention because before the establishment of the scheme such patients found it difficult to undertake "check ups" due to the high cost involved.

He therefore, stressed the need for the citizenry to patronize the scheme which he described "as a life security for everyone as diseases would not discriminate among the people."

Dr. Saku appealed to politicians not to play politics with the scheme because clients would enjoy free medical attention as the scheme was being supported with resources from the taxpayer. In another development, the management of Nyaase Royal Maternity Home at Wenchi, had confirmed an increase in patients attendance at the Home.

Mr. Owusu Ansah-Broni, on behalf of his wife expressed appreciation to the efforts of management of the scheme at Wenchi for making prompt payments of medical bills submitted at the end of every month. He called on opinion leaders within the communities such as assembly members, unit committees, traditional rulers and religious leaders to lead in the campaign to educate the people to patronise the scheme to promote better health care delivery to enhance socio-economic development of the country. 19 July 06