Approximately 18 million Ghanaians—representing 55% of the national population—are currently active members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), according to Oswald Essuah Mensah, Director of Corporate Affairs at the NHIS.
The scheme aims to expand its coverage to 21 million members by the end of 2025, raising national enrollment to 62%.
Mr. Mensah revealed this during a community durbar held in Accra under the theme “Bringing Healthcare Closer to the People: The Role of NHIS in Coastal Communities.” The event marked the conclusion of a month-long outreach campaign designed to bring NHIS services directly to informal sector workers, especially market traders.
The program offered free NHIS registration and renewal, along with complimentary health screenings, to improve access and awareness.
Boosting Access and Awareness
Mr. Mensah emphasized that the outreach initiative supports Ghana’s broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He noted that educating the public and reducing access barriers are central to the NHIS mission.
“We are taking the scheme to the people to boost active membership and ensure they understand that healthcare should not be paid for out-of-pocket,” he said.
The initiative focused on enrolling first-time users and assisting those whose NHIS cards had expired.
Challenges and Reforms
Mr. Mensah acknowledged that one of the scheme’s biggest challenges is the illegal demand for extra payments by some healthcare providers. To combat this, a task force has been established to monitor and reduce such practices.
“We’re making regular payments to providers—over GH¢1.5 billion has already been disbursed this year,” he said, adding that monthly payments range between GH¢200 million and GH¢300 million. He also mentioned that tariffs are under review to reflect current economic realities.
Upcoming Health Initiatives
Mr. Mensah highlighted upcoming government initiatives meant to complement the NHIS, including the Free Primary Healthcare programme and Mahama Care.
While Mahama Care will focus on chronic and renal health conditions, the Free Primary Healthcare policy will provide basic medical services at no cost at the community and district levels.
“These policies are in their final stages and will soon be rolled out,” he added.
He encouraged the public to regularly check their NHIS status and renew their membership, noting that annual contributions remain affordable at GH¢30 for non-SSNIT contributors.
Community Impact and Innovations
Hamdiya Amadu Yakubu, Deputy Director in charge of Provider and Client Relations, explained that the outreach focused on education and membership growth.
“We found that many market women can’t spare the time to visit NHIS offices or use mobile phones for renewals, so we brought the services to their doorsteps—right at their stalls,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the CEO of St. Martin’s Memorial Hospital, Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Joycelyn Quashie, praised the NHIS as one of Ghana’s most impactful social programs.
“It has eliminated financial barriers for countless families, empowered patients to seek care with dignity, and ensured access to vital services—from childhood immunizations to chronic disease treatment,” she noted.
Edited by : KENNEDY AMPONSAH NTI
EASTERN FM 105.1 MHZ
