NHIS Ghana

Big conversations are coming.

Join Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, Chief Executive of NHIA, together with Kalyjay and Dr. George as we unpack the future of healthcare in Ghana.

Friday, 5th June 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Live on

Theme: NHIS Unpacked: Reimagining Healthcare for the Next Generation

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NHIA Head Office monitoring team storms Northern Region

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) ‘STORM’ Initiative, forms part of efforts to accelerate Ghana’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

The initiative which runs from 15th April to May 31, 2026 waives the one month waiting period traditionally required before accessing healthcare services under the NHIS

As part of the implementation, NHIA staff have been deployed across the country to register and renew members country wide.

In light of this, the Acting Deputy Director, Provider and Client Relations, Ms. Hamdiya Amadu Yakubu led a team to the Northern Region for monitoring the nationwide "Operation markets storm" which began on April 15.to May 31, 2026.

She was accompanied by Madam Linda Acquah, a Senior Manager, Operations Directorate and Mr. Prince Aboagye, Manager, Membership and Regional Operations (MRO) Directorate.

NHIA Northern Regional Acting Director, Mr. Alhassan Abdulai led the delegation from Accra to the Nyankpala Chief’s palace where registration and renewal took place at the forecourt of the palace.

Ms. Hamdiya at the Nyankpala Chief's Palace highlighted the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC), Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) programmes, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) free registration and membership renewals, one month waiver for the waiting period for fresh registration and membership renewals.

She connected with the people speaking the Dagbani language and explained the health reforms particularly the Free Primary Health Care benefits package and the need.for all residents in Ghana to enroll in the NHIS.

She said the Free Primary Health Care entails free health screenings for mental health conditions, breast examination, Non-Communicable by Diseases (NCD) such as hypertension, diabetes, Body Mass Index assessment and community health education.

Ms. Hamdiya reiterated the NHIA Executive Management's determination to combat the unauthorized illgal charges for services incorporated in the NHIS Benefit Package.

The NHIA Acting Northern Regional Director, Mr. Alhassan Abdulai encouraged the people to resist payments for medical bills covered by the NHiS and report the recalcitrant credentialed healthcare providers to the Regional or district management teams.

Source: Andrew A. Awonnore, NHIA Northern Regional Public Relations Manager

Dr Victor Asare Bampoe
Dr. Kwesi Djokoto
Oswald Mensah
Faustina Dery
Sung Naa Ma Hikma

NHIA Calls for Stronger Oversight to Safeguard Public Purse
The Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, has underscored the importance of post-credentialling activities in ensuring accountability and protecting public funds within the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop organized by the Quality Assurance Directorate (QA) in Sogakope, Dr. Djokoto explained that some health facilities exaggerate the level of care they provide, resulting in inflated claims.
“We have noticed that some facilities that provide services at the level of care that they claim to be in, they don’t. So, it is only on paper that they offer those services. But we are paying them much more for services that they are not rendering,” he said.
Dr. Djokoto said there was the need to enhance post-credentialling tools to help the Authority verify claims and ensure that payments reflect actual services delivered to NHIS members.
He noted that with the introduction of Free Primary Health Care (FPHC), QA staff must play a central role in maintaining standards. “Because if the health facilities are overwhelmed, it is very easy for them to compromise on the level of care that they offer. So, it is your responsibility to make sure that we maintain those standards,” he stated.
He added that effective stakeholder management by QA would boost public confidence in the NHIA and enhance the Authority’s image.
The Deputy Chief Executive acknowledged that more work is needed in clinical auditing to improve patient care and detect fraud.
Dr. Djokoto cautioned that sustaining the NHIS would be difficult if loopholes were not sealed before new tariffs are announced.
“Our survival depends on the work that you do routinely and the only way you can excel is when you do the ordinary task in extraordinary manner,” he said.
The Director of Operations, Ms. Mariam Musah, also addressed the workshop, explaining the distinction between the NHIS and the newly introduced Free Primary Health Care initiative. She noted that while the NHIS is service-based, the FPHC is population-based, focusing on preventive and promotive health services.
According to Ms. Musah, the FPHC is designed to strengthen community-level health delivery and reduce the burden on higher-level facilities by emphasizing prevention rather than treatment.

Source: Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor
Pictures: Barbara Aikins

Dr Victor Asare Bampoe
Dr. Kwesi Djokoto
Oswald Mensah
Faustina Dery
Sung Naa Ma Hikma

NHIA Anti-Fraud Boss Advocates Incentives for Compliant Healthcare Providers

The Acting Director of the Anti-Fraud and Illegal Payment Directorate of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Isaac G. Akonde, has called for incentives for healthcare providers who do not subject members to illegal charges.

Such incentives, he said, could include publicly acknowledging them as compliant facilities and ensuring the prompt vetting and payment of their claims.

According to him, this would not only put the spotlight on these facilities but also drive traffic to them, as National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) members would naturally prefer their services.

Conversely, facilities found engaging in fraudulent claims and illegal charges would be named and shamed, ultimately losing their clientele to compliant competitors.

Mr. Akonde made the proposal on May 21, 2026, during a three-day capacity-building workshop for staff of the NHIA's Quality Assurance Directorate in Sogakope.

He noted that feedback from the Illegal Payment Task Committee indicated that illegal charging is a systemic issue cutting across all categories of healthcare providers.

He acknowledged that one of the primary reasons cited by providers for this practice has been the low tariffs paid for their services by the NHIS.

However, with significantly improved new tariffs soon to be announced, Mr. Akonde emphasized the need for stringent measures to deter service providers from charging illegal fees.

To this end, he welcomed the introduction of the One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC) and the Biometric Member Authentication System (BMAS) as key mechanisms to curb system abuse.

He added that his directorate is also developing fraud-prevention policies and regulations for Executive Management's approval.

For her part, the Director of Legal at the NHIA, Ms. Annette Obenewaa Adutwum, disclosed that her directorate is reviewing the current Provider Service Agreement,which has been in use for a decade, to align it with the Authority’s current vision.

Earlier, the Acting Deputy Director of Credentialing, Mr. Eugene Segbefia, welcomed participants and explained that the workshop aims to help the directorate and its regional officers harmonise their operations.

It also provides a platform for staff to understand the functions of other directorates to foster better collaboration and advance the Authority's objectives.

The first day of the workshop featured presentations from the Management and Information System Directorate, Claims Directorate, Provider and Client Relations Unit, and the Human Resource Directorate. The sessions focused on their respective roles within the NHIA and how their work impacts the functions of the Quality Assurance Directorate.

Source: Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor
Pictures: Barbara Aikins

Dr Victor Asare Bampoe
Dr. Kwesi Djokoto
Oswald Mensah
Faustina Dery
Sung Naa Ma Hikma

Jamaican Delegation Visits NHIA to Explore Ghana’s Health Insurance Model

A delegation from Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), led by its Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, paid a working visit to Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Accra on Friday, May 29, 2026.

The visit formed part of a strategic bilateral partnership aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery systems through knowledge exchange and collaboration, while also understudying the operations and successes of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Although the official visit primarily focused on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on healthcare cooperation and labour exchange to facilitate the temporary deployment of Ghanaian nurses and doctors to Jamaica, the delegation also used the opportunity to explore the study of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to help inform Jamaica’s ongoing public health insurance reforms.

Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Tufton explained that the delegation’s visit to Ghana was centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation in healthcare and labour exchange between the two countries.
He noted that relations between the two countries had continued to strengthen over the years, citing Ghana’s support for Jamaica following a devastating hurricane last year, when Ghana deployed a team of army engineers to assist with recovery efforts.

Dr. Tufton said the partnership between the two countries would focus on the recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian healthcare professionals to Jamaica, alongside collaborations in training and healthcare systems strengthening.
Speaking on Jamaica’s interest in Ghana’s NHIS, the Jamaican Health Minister explained that although Jamaica currently operates a National Health Fund (NHF), the system differs from Ghana’s comprehensive health insurance model.

According to him, Jamaica’s NHF currently supports citizens with free or subsidised medication for about 28 categories of illnesses through public health institutions and accredited private pharmacies.
He stated that the NHF is expected to evolve into a full National Health Insurance Scheme, prompting Jamaican authorities to research sustainable healthcare financing models that could guide the transition.

Dr. Tufton noted that Jamaica operates both public and private healthcare systems with relatively low private insurance coverage, while public healthcare institutions provide free healthcare services to citizens.
“With that context, we are interested in understanding how Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme works and what lessons we can learn from it,” he said.
He expressed optimism about future engagements between Ghana’s NHIA and Jamaica’s health institutions, stressing that technology and virtual platforms would facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two countries.
The Deputy Chief Executive of Administration and Human Resources of the NHIA, Mr. Raphael Segkpeb, welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Chief Executive, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, highlighted Ghana’s healthcare financing journey, noting that the NHIS was introduced in 2003 to replace the “cash-and-carry” system where citizens paid directly for healthcare services at the point of access.

According to him, the Scheme initially focused largely on curative healthcare services but evolved over time following the realization that healthcare delivery must also prioritize preventive and promotive care.
He explained that Ghana recently launched the Free Primary Healthcare initiative to strengthen preventive healthcare and ensure early detection and treatment of ailments before they escalate into severe health conditions.

Mr. Segkpeb noted that the initiative would help reduce the country’s expenditure on curative healthcare in the long term, stressing that early access to healthcare improves health outcomes and reduces the overall disease burden.
He further stated that Ghana, like many middle-income countries, is increasingly dealing with the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, prompting the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as “Mahama Care.”
According to him, the Fund was introduced to support the management of non-communicable diseases and to ease the financial pressure on the National Health Insurance Fund, ensuring the sustainability of the NHIS.
Mr. Segkpeb expressed optimism about future collaboration between Ghana and Jamaica, particularly in the areas of preventive and promotive healthcare.
He disclosed that the NHIA would work towards establishing ongoing engagement between the two institutions through virtual presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions to identify areas of mutual strength and cooperation for the benefit of both countries.

The Director of Strategic Health Purchasing at the NHIA, Dr. Ruby Aileen Mensah Annan, together with other directors present, gave an overview of the NHIS, including its structure, financing mechanisms, digital innovations, and operational strategies, which have positioned the Scheme as one of Africa’s notable public health insurance systems.

Source: Vivian Arthur
Photo: Barbara Aikins
Dr Victor Asare Bampoe
Dr. Kwesi Djokoto
Oswald Mensah
Faustina Dery

A glimpse of the energy, excitement and engagement at the NHIS Campus Connect Forum in Navrongo.

Young people learning, connecting and choosing a healthier future.

NHIA Takes Campus Connect to Navrongo with Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has taken its Campus Connect initiative to Navrongo, engaging students on drug abuse, healthy living, entrepreneurship and access to healthcare. The event brought together students from senior high schools, universities, colleges of education and nursing training institutions across the Upper East Region.

Speaking at the forum, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA in charge of Finance and Investment, Ms. Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri( Esq), urged students to make responsible decisions and resist the pressures that often lead young people into substance abuse.

She emphasized that while many young people face academic, social and economic challenges, drugs only create additional problems that can negatively affect their health, education and future opportunities. She also encouraged students to prioritize both their physical and mental well-being and to seek support whenever they feel overwhelmed or emotionally burdened.

Ms. Bogobiri further used the platform to educate participants on key healthcare interventions being implemented through the NHIA, including the NHIS registration and renewal waiver exercise, the Free Primary Healthcare initiative and Mahama Cares. According to her, these interventions are designed to remove barriers to healthcare, promote preventive care and ensure that more Ghanaians have access to quality healthcare services.

She encouraged students to take advantage of the ongoing waiver exercise and remain actively enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme, stressing that good health remains essential to academic success and personal development.

The forum, organized by Nu-Bia Events under the theme, “Say No to Drugs, Yes to Life: Protecting Our Future Through Healthy Choices,” was held at the St. John Bosco’s College of Education Auditorium.

Participants also heard from former drug addict, Barry Logozure, who shared his personal story and encouraged students to stay away from substance abuse. Representatives from Careline Health Solutions engaged students on health and wellness, while entrepreneur Mr. Benjamin Anyaana, Chief Executive Officer of B.C. Bencyn Co. Ltd., delivered a presentation on starting a business with little or no capital.

Students actively participated in discussions and question-and-answer sessions, engaging speakers on issues relating to health, entrepreneurship, mental well-being and personal development.

The NHIS Campus Connect initiative forms part of the Authority’s broader efforts to deepen engagement with young people, increase awareness of the National Health Insurance Scheme, promote preventive healthcare and encourage healthy lifestyles among students across the country.

Source: Shaniece Palm
Photo Credit: Samuel Larbi, Bridget Appiah & Isaac Ofori