The Out-Patients Department at Tepa District Hospital in the Ahafo Ano North District recorded 22,656 patients in 2006 as compared to 17,616 in 2005, an increase of 29 percent. Some 2,889 patients were admitted during the same period as compared to 2,567 in 2005, an increase of 13 percent. This was contained in a report presented by the hospital administrator, Mr Collins Kesse, during a staff durbar held at the hospital on Friday to discuss the performance of the staff last year. He attributed the increase to the effective implementation of the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in the district and the commitment and dedication to duty by the medical and non-medical staff. The Administrator mentioned 24-hour healthcare, no maternal death, good patients/nurses relationship and increase in internally generated fund as some of the achievements of the hospital last year. He praised the district assembly, Tepa Traditional Council and local churches for their support for the hospital and appealed to them to assist the hospital to get more medical staff through sponsorship packages, obtain ultrasound machine and a pickup to support health delivery. The Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, Mr Kofi Opoku, praised the hospital administration for increasing its internally generated funds from 1,402,651,810 cedis in 2005 to 1,780,755,710 in 2006, an increase of 27 percent. Twelve workers were honoured for their devotion to duty with Ms Beatrice Konadu, a nurse, adjudged as the overall Best Worker and was presented with 14-inch television. The rest of the workers were given blenders, kettles and wall clocks.Source GNA