President Mahama Vows to Uncap Health Insurance Levy to Boost NHIA Funding; Strengthen Healthcare Access
President John Mahama has announced plans to uncap the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) in the upcoming budget to ensure sustainable funding for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Speaking at a National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service in Accra on Sunday, January 12, the President emphasized the importance of providing sufficient resources to the NHIA to reimburse healthcare providers promptly and improve access to healthcare for all Ghanaians.
“To improve access to healthcare for all our people, we will in the next budget uncap the National Health Insurance Levy. This is important so that the National Health Insurance Authority can have sufficient funds to reimburse health service providers for the care that they provide to the public,” President Mahama stated.
The NHIA has been actively working to reduce its debt to healthcare providers and enhance the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare delivery.
Recent payments highlight these efforts: in February 2024, the NHIA disbursed GHS130.2 million to 4,850 healthcare providers for claims submitted in October 2023.
Additionally, in August 2024, the authority released GHS151 million to cover claims from March and April 2024 for higher- and lower-tier facilities.
The NHIL, a 2.5% levy on goods and services collected under the Value Added Tax (VAT), is a crucial funding source for the NHIA.
The proposed removal of the cap is expected to provide the authority with greater financial flexibility to meet its obligations and improve service delivery across the healthcare sector.
President Mahama’s initiative aligns with his administration’s broader commitment to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system and ensuring equitable access to essential medical services.
