Ghana’s active National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) membership increased from 56.3 per cent in 2024 to 70 per cent as of August 2026, while the Government paid GH¢2.1 billion in claims to healthcare providers between January and September 2026.
The increase in membership has been attributed to the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy, which has enabled more funds to be channelled directly into patient care.
According to the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the National Health Insurance Authority processed submitted claims within an average of 25 days, reducing delays in payments to public, private and mission healthcare providers.
The Government also plans to expand NHIS coverage and improve payments to healthcare providers in 2027 as part of efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage.
On maternal healthcare, the Ministry of Health launched the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response in September 2026 under the theme, “No Woman Should Die While Giving Life”.
The initiative will be linked to the Free Primary Healthcare programme, the ambulance service and the proposed Mother and Child Centre at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Government also plans to establish two new cardiology centres and a 400-bed Mother and Child facility at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in 2027.
To strengthen healthcare infrastructure, construction has commenced on six 160-bed regional hospitals in the Oti, Western North and Savannah Regions.
The Juaboso District Hospital project has reached 15 per cent completion, while the Juaboso Nursing Training College has attained 30 per cent.
The Enyiresi Government Hospital is 95 per cent complete, while the Obuasi District Hospital and Anyinam Trauma Hospital have each reached 86 per cent completion. The Obuasi Health Care Centre has attained 80 per cent.
Work on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity and Children’s Block has also recorded 65 per cent overall progress.
The Ministry further reported improvements in specialised healthcare delivery, including the commissioning and operationalisation of the Eye Care and Surgical Training Centre at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.
The facility performed 210 cataract surgeries and 137 specialist outreaches, benefiting 11,639 people.
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital also provided 101 laparoscopic surgeries and 2,857 dialysis sessions under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares.
At Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a new Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory funded through MahamaCares was commissioned, alongside the introduction of additional ear, nose and throat, surgical and endoscopic equipment. The hospital also introduced corneal transplantation and minimally invasive vascular surgery.
Meanwhile, the Government has obtained financial clearance to recruit 16,000 health professionals, with 8,600 already on the Government payroll.
The Ministry also disbursed GH¢231.36 million in nursing training allowances to 82,629 trainees between January and July 2026.
The National Ambulance Service expanded its operations through the establishment of three new ambulance stations and two regional workshops. It also trained 3,550 personnel in first aid and basic life support and insured 220 ambulances.
In blood services, the National Blood Service collected 105,683 units against a requirement of 154,000. Voluntary unpaid donations accounted for 24 per cent, below the 30 per cent target.
The Service also conducted 906 educational talks and 401 mobile donation sessions, expanding its infrastructure to five operational regional blood centres and 43 blood collection units.
On pharmaceutical production, the Government and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention signed a Memorandum of Understanding in August 2026 under the Africa Pooled Procurement Mechanism. The agreement is expected to give Ghanaian pharmaceutical manufacturers access to a continental market of approximately 1.4 billion people.
The Ministry also completed the writing for Grant Cycle 8 (GC8), covering 2027 to 2029, and submitted it to the Global Fund for approval to support interventions against malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. The Government has programmed resources to meet the required co-financing commitments.
To improve healthcare data management, the Ministry developed the Ghana Health Information System, an interoperable platform linking datasets across the health sector to provide real-time information for decision-making.
An electronic bed management system is also being introduced to improve hospital bed utilisation and address the persistent no-bed syndrome. Its pilot phase has commenced, with a command centre at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, and integration with the ambulance service.
The Government also intends to extend 24-hour healthcare services, with selected regional and teaching hospitals already providing round-the-clock outpatient services supported by extended diagnostic, laboratory and pharmacy operations.
For 2027, the Ministry of Health will focus on strengthening regulatory oversight, expanding NHIS coverage, improving payments to healthcare providers, expanding health infrastructure, providing real-time access to health information and extending the electronic bed management system to other regions.
These measures form part of the Government’s broader healthcare priorities outlined in the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, titled *The New Economy, New Ghana, Jobs and Prosperity*, presented by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on the authority of President John Dramani Mahama.
