The break was attributed to shortage of working materials.

      As a result, many subscribers, whose membership cards were due for renewal could not do so and had to pay cash to access medical care at the various health facilities, while others had to buy drugs which hitherto were covered by the NHIS.

        When GNA visited the office of the NHIS, many people had queued up waiting for their turns to renew their membership cards, while others were also there to register for the first time.

         The New Juaben Director of the NHIS, Mr Kwadwo Gyeke Darko, who briefed the GNA, said the shortage of the materials normally occurred, but added that his outfit in lieu of that was beginning a month- long outreach programme by sending their equipment to communities in the area to enable people renew their membership cards or register onto  the scheme.

     He said the outreach programme would cover all the 180 communities in the municipality and therefore appealed to clients not to rush to the office.

     According to the scheme manager, the move was to make up for the inconveniences caused the subscribers, who had to pay transportation to and fro for service, during the break.