NHIA urges amendment of Health Insurance Act for primary healthcare

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has called on Parliament’s Health Committee to expedite the amendment of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852). This legislative change is intended to provide the necessary legal framework to support the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative. Dr. Kwesi Djokoto, the NHIA Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations, formally made the request, noting that the Ministry of Health is already working on the revisions to align the law with current national health delivery goals.

According to Dr. Djokoto, the proposed amendment is critical for addressing persistent operational challenges that threaten the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Key among these issues are claims leakages and the prevalence of illegal co-payments, where healthcare providers charge patients for services and medicines already covered by the insurance. By strengthening the legal framework, the NHIA aims to enhance its enforcement capabilities, more effectively prosecute fraudulent actors, and ensure that the Free Primary Healthcare policy benefits the public without illegal financial barriers.

Beyond legislative reforms, the NHIA is seeking financial support for its long-term operational stability and infrastructure. Dr. Djokoto requested that the committee prioritize capital budget funding for 2027 to maintain and improve the authority's physical and technical facilities. He highlighted that the NHIA has already achieved significant efficiency gains through digital interventions. These technological upgrades have successfully reduced the claims processing turnaround time to 20 days, enabling the authority to maintain a consistent schedule of monthly payments to healthcare providers nationwide.