By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
GENEVA, Switzerland – President John Dramani Mahama says major reforms to Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have unlocked an additional GHS 3 billion in funding to strengthen the country’s health sector and improve service delivery nationwide.
Addressing the 79th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation in Geneva, the President said the financial boost is the result of decisive policy reforms aimed at removing inefficiencies and expanding fiscal space for healthcare investment.
He explained that the removal of the funding cap on the NHIS has immediately freed up significant resources that will be reinvested into healthcare delivery, infrastructure, and service improvement.
President Mahama said, “By removing the cap on the health insurance fund, we immediately freed up an additional GHS 3 billion, equivalent to $300 million, for healthcare investment.”
He noted that the reforms are part of a broader effort to strengthen Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme, improve financial sustainability, and ensure timely reimbursement of service providers.
According to him, the introduction of digital systems and artificial intelligence tools is also helping to reduce fraudulent claims, improve efficiency, and strengthen accountability within the system.
He stressed that timely payments to hospitals and health facilities remain critical to restoring trust between the state and healthcare providers, adding that such trust is essential for quality patient care.
President Mahama said Ghana’s experience demonstrates that with strong political will and sustained reforms, African countries can significantly expand access to healthcare and move closer to universal health coverage.
He added that the reforms underline the government’s commitment to building a more resilient and inclusive health system capable of serving all citizens, including those in rural and underserved communities.
