Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr. Foster Agyei-Korang, on Tuesday appealed to operators in the region to ensure regular and prompt monthly payment of monies due to client service providers for efficient and reliable performance. He asked operators not to allow huge sums of money "to sit" in their accounts whilst service providers remain unpaid to avoid being queried by the authorities. According to him, the practice "defeats the NHIS’ main objective of providing quality and affordable healthcare for all". Mr. Agyei-Korang who was speaking in Sunyani at the third quarterly review meeting of the Sunyani Municipal Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, said the quantum of available amount, "no matter how small it is" should not deter operators from making regular payments to service providers. The Regional Manager, however, urged service providers "to be reasonable with operators and accept whatever is offered at any period since half a loaf is better than none". He explained that such little sums would generally sustain operations of the scheme which is better than a situation where service providers would be cash-strapped and consequently close down. The inability or refusal of service providers to attend to the sick as a result of non-settlement of bills by operators poses a big threat to the sustenance and survival of the NHIS, Mr. Agyei-Korang noted. He explained that whilst staff of the scheme perform as managers of the programme, the actual and practical realization of the scheme's objectives and goals rests on the hospitals and clinics so long as they remained in business. Source: GNA