Agona Swedru, May 6, GNA - Nana Kojo Frempong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme has expressed concern about the slow pace in implementing the scheme in the district.

He said the slow pace of registering people especially those in the informal sector and the payment of premium could be attributed to apathy on the part of Ghanaians towards relevant issues.

Speaking at the a workshop organised by the Secretariat of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme to sensitise Premium Collectors, Nana Frempong expressed regrets that out of the expected 174,000 people only 50,000 had so far registered and paid their premium.

He called on the management and the Premium Collectors to intensify their campaign to ensure the early implementation of the scheme. Nana Frempong explained that the government to promote quality health delivery and to remove the cash and carry system adopted the Scheme.

He said the Scheme had made it possible for some Ghanaians to have access to quality health services and prevented what would have led to the untimely death of many people. The Board Chairman called for the review of the commission of Premium Collectors to encourage them to work harder to ensure the success of the Scheme.

He said the Board had decided to pay 300,000 cedis to the volunteers who recoded houses and streets in the district to motivate them to achieve the objectives of the programme. Mr Egyir Nyakoh, Acting District Manager of the Scheme urged Community Committees to supervise the collection of premium to ensure that they were paid regularly to District Office to avoid diversion. He asked the collectors to update their demographical data on regular basis.

Mr Francis Kwesi Aante, Agona Kwanyako Premium Collector was adjudged the Best for collecting seven million out of his 14-million quota in two months instead of five. 06 May 05