Barely three weeks after the commencement of free medical care for pregnant women, there has been a significant increase in the number of registered women at the healthcare centres. The policy is expected to reduce maternal mortality which is one of the debilitating health problems confronting the nation. According to the Chief Executive of the NHIS, about 50,924 women have registered across the length and breadth of the country and are enjoying free healthcare under the scheme. At the “meet-the-press” series in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Boateng said the Ashanti region recorded the highest number with 12, 000 women registering. The Volta region had the lowest, registering 1, 500 women. Even after birth, the package will cover the cost of all medical problems for the mother and the child for one year. A number of women have welcomed the policy told Joy News it has reduced their burden to some extent. President J. A. Kufuor announced the policy after a trip to the United Kingdom where the British government pledged £42.5 million to support the government’s efforts at reducing maternal mortality as envisaged in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is however believed its implementation will put a strain on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and healthcare facilities as the number of women taking advantage of it keeps growing. The policy has also been misunderstood by some women who confuse it with family planning. Mr. Boateng explained the scheme is to deal with only pregnancy and other related complications. “This pregnant women programme is not intended to stop or to bring to an end the family planning programme” he stressed. Family planning programmes he noted will continue “because that one is more educational - it is going to inform people as to how they need to space their children”.