The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, says the government’s decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has made about GH¢4 billion available to support the health sector.
He said the decision formed part of broader efforts by the Mahama administration to strengthen healthcare financing, improve service delivery and expand access to essential health services.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, October 19, Mr Akandoh said uncapping the NHIS had allowed funds previously diverted to other uses to be channelled into the health sector.
“One of the first decisions His Excellency the President took was the uncapping of the National Health Insurance. Before, the former regime was diverting resources meant for health to do other things. So His Excellency uncapped the National Health Insurance to bring those resources into the health sector. So we had about GH¢4 billion,” he said.
Mr Akandoh said funding allocated to the NHIS had increased from about GH¢6.65 billion in 2024 to approximately GH¢10 billion in 2025, providing additional resources to support healthcare delivery.
He said the increased allocation also placed a greater responsibility on the government to ensure that the funds were used effectively to improve access to healthcare.
The minister said the government was pursuing broader reforms to the health system, including the rollout of free primary healthcare, which he described as critical to achieving universal health coverage.
According to him, about 80 per cent of healthcare needs could be addressed at the primary healthcare level, making investment in such services particularly important.
He explained that the programme covered preventive and curative services at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres and polyclinics.
Launched in April 2026, the programme was operational in 135 districts, with services available at about 4,500 health facilities, he said.
“At these levels, when you are sick, and you go to the health centre or the CHPS compound, you don’t need the National Health Insurance card before you are treated,” he said.
Mr Akandoh clarified that although patients would receive the services free of charge, the government would reimburse health facilities for the cost of treatment.
“It is free to you, Bernard, but it’s not free to the government. Whatever services they render, the government will pay,” he said.
He said the government initially targeted 150 districts for the programme in 2026 and was working towards extending it nationwide by the end of 2027.
However, he explained that free primary healthcare did not automatically cover services at district, regional and teaching hospitals, where patients would still need to rely on their NHIS coverage or pay out of pocket.
He therefore urged Ghanaians to enrol in the NHIS to access covered services beyond the primary healthcare level.
Mr Akandoh further disclosed that NHIS coverage had increased from about 57 per cent when the current administration took office to approximately 70 per cent.
He attributed improvements in the scheme’s ability to pay healthcare providers on time to the release of funds following the decision to uncap its financing.
“After the uncapping, the releases are going on time. These days, it is the National Health Insurance that will call service providers: ‘Bring your claims and let’s pay you,’” he said.
The minister said the government was also strengthening preventive healthcare through community outreach, screening and public education.
The initiatives include screening for high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels and some cancers.
He explained that health professionals would be mobilised to visit homes, schools and marketplaces to educate the public on disease prevention and conduct screenings.
Mr Akandoh said the reforms were intended to complement one another by improving healthcare financing, expanding access to essential services and reducing the financial burden on patients.
