NHIA seeks Health Insurance Act amendment for free primary healthcare

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has formally petitioned Parliament’s Health Committee to amend the Health Insurance Act of 2012 (Act 852) to provide legal backing for the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative. Speaking during a recent engagement with the committee, Dr. Kwesi Djokoto, the NHIA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that the current legislation requires updates to align with new policy directions and to address persistent operational hurdles that hinder effective service delivery across the country.

The proposed amendment is designed to tackle critical issues such as claims leakages and the prevalence of illegal co-payments at various healthcare facilities. Dr. Djokoto noted that the Ministry of Health is already actively working on the legislative revisions and urged the parliamentary committee to prioritize the bill once it is formally laid. Beyond supporting free primary care, the NHIA intends to use the legal overhaul to strengthen its enforcement capabilities against fraud and to enhance the overall transparency of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, lauded the authority for its recent improvements in financial management and the speed of claims disbursement. Records indicate a significant uptick in payments, with GH₵83.1 million processed in the final two quarters of 2026, compared to GH₵27.8 million in 2025. These advancements have been attributed to digital interventions that have reduced the claims processing turnaround time to just 20 days, allowing for more consistent monthly payments to healthcare providers.

Despite these gains, the NHIA is looking toward long-term sustainability by requesting capital budget funding for 2027 to upgrade and maintain its technological and physical infrastructure. Dr. Nawaane encouraged continued collaboration between the authority and the legislature to resolve remaining operational challenges. Ensuring a robust legal and financial foundation for the NHIS is seen as essential for expanding patient access to medical services and achieving the goal of universal health coverage under the new primary healthcare model.