Authorities of the Apam Catholic Hospital have expressed concern about the rate at which patients have been absconding without paying their bills.

They have therefore appealed to the people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to save them any embarrassment.

The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr. Ebenezer Ameka, told the GNA that between September 2006 and April 2007 patients ran away with bills totalling ¢31.1 million.

Between September and December 2006 the hospital incurred a debt of ¢17,670,000 in respect of patients absconding without paying their bills.

Between January and April 2007 patients ran away without paying bills amounting to ¢13,502,000.

Dr Ameka said the affected patients have not registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme.

He said the hospital, the only big hospital in the Gomoa District, serves about 220,000 people and needed enough money to provide facilities and equipment and appealed to the people to desist from such habit since it undermined the growth of the hospital.

Source: GNA