The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is yet to establish offices in four districts in the Oti Region, affecting access to healthcare.

Harsh terrain and bad roads in the newly created Region means a further strain on efforts to provide services to such areas.

These include the Biakoye, Krachi Nchumuru, Nkwanta North, and the Guan Districts, and stakeholders are appealing for help.

Mr Ebenezer Carboo-Hartog, Field Officer for Send Ghana, a non-profit operating in the Nkwanta North District, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that registration and card renewals had been affected.

He said the NGO facilitated registration in the Nkwanta North district for some vulnerable but said the establishment and expansion of functional offices across would help ensure total healthcare for all.

GNA was shown a private residence leased by the Assembly for use by the Authority.

Mr Confidence Owusu Kuntor, Regional Director for the Authority, responded that financial constraints affected the operation of the offices, although the Assemblies there had provided some support.

He said staff from offices in the other districts, periodically would visit the affected areas to offer services.

The Director said staff and logistics were overstretched covering those areas but added that management of the Scheme was working to provide offices for at least two more districts.

The Regional Office for the Authority is currently under construction in the Kadjebi District, and staff is operating from a private residence.

Mr Kuntor said the NHIS was being "highly patronised" by the people of the Region, yet the work of the Authority was being hampered by internet connectivity challenges, sometimes limiting registrations to only ten or 20 per day.

The Director, however, noted that the five established offices had been well resourced, and that staff there were working round the clock to meet set targets.