Vice-President Aliu Mahama handed over 30 pick-ups to the National Health Insurance Council for distribution to the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Accra, yesterday. The 30 vehicles form the first batch of 140 meant for the districts to enhance the work of mutual health insurance schemes. Alhaji Mahama used the occasion to warn personnel of the scheme against extortion of money from the public."The government has received complaints from members of the public alleging that some personnel of the scheme have been extorting money from them." The Vice President said investigations have been ordered into the allegations and officials found culpable will be dealt with. "We owe it a duty to report corrupt officials by using established complaint mechanisms under the National Health Insurance Act," he added. He advised the National Health Insurance Council to devise a new strategy in the issuance of identity cards to reduce delays. The chairman of the council, Frank Adu, said 6.67 million people, representing 38 per cent of Ghana’s population have registered under the NHIS. He said, this figure was achieved in spite of the extreme challenges officials of the scheme face, including lack of vehicles. Mr. Adu therefore appealed to the government to review the process of procurement of the vehicles which he said began in October 2005. "We were expecting to receive the first consignment by June 2006. It took us about 16 months to receive the first batch," he said. Times