MoH launches national non-resident visitors’ health insurance policy
The Ministry of Health has launched a national Non-Resident Visitors Health Insurance policy to promote, provide and maintain good healthcare for all non-resident visitors in Ghana through health insurance.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, the Minister for Health (MoH), Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, stated that the development of the policy was timely as the ministry was currently implementing a Universal Health Coverage Roadmap (2020-2030), which outlines that, “all people in Ghana have timely access to high-quality health services irrespective of their ability to pay at the point of use.”
He said the bid to achieve UHC would not be complete if the health needs of non-resident visitors were not addressed.
He noted that the vision of the policy was aligned with the vision of the MoH: “A healthy population for national development.”
Mr Agyeman-Manu stated that the implementation of the policy would culminate in the establishment of a National Non-Resident Visitors Health Insurance Scheme (NNRVHIS), adding that the scheme would be the main vehicle for the delivery of robust healthcare services to non-residents travelling to Ghana.
On his part, the Chief Director for the Ministry, Mr Hafiz Adam, stated that the Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852) mandates the National Health Insurance Authority to provide health insurance coverage to non-resident visitors in Ghana.
He added that all healthcare problems found in the general population are also found in migrant groups.
“They also face health challenges of communicable and non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, mental health disorders and injuries.
“As such, ensuring that non-resident visitors in Ghana have access to good healthcare devoid of financial risk is non-negotiable,” he stated.
He noted that the operationalisation of the policy framework would go a long way to complement the government’s efforts to turn Ghana into a hub for medical tourism in the West African Sub-region.
