President John Dramani Mahama has directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to intensify inspections of healthcare facilities and sanction providers found demanding unauthorised payments from NHIS subscribers.
The directive follows complaints that some hospitals and health facilities continue to collect additional fees from patients for services covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), despite the presentation of valid insurance cards.
Speaking at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), President Mahama said the practice undermined the purpose of the insurance scheme and imposed unnecessary financial burdens on subscribers.
He said the NHIA would undertake facility-to-facility monitoring to identify providers engaging in the practice and ensure that those found culpable faced appropriate sanctions.
“I’ve just received complaints that despite the fact that people present their NHIS cards, still money is extracted from them before they receive service. The NHIA is putting a service and going from facility to facility, and any facility caught charging extra fees outside the insurance will be dealt with,” he said.
The President stressed that patients enrolled under the scheme must receive all covered services without being compelled to make additional payments.
He also called for stronger measures to tackle fraud and waste within the NHIS, emphasising the need to protect resources allocated to the scheme and ensure they are used for their intended purposes.
President Mahama said the government would support the NHIA and healthcare providers in strengthening financial management and safeguarding the sustainability of the insurance scheme.
He further noted that improved financial predictability under the NHIS should enable healthcare facilities to procure essential medical supplies and maintain service delivery without resorting to unauthorised charges against patients.
The directive forms part of efforts to improve accountability in healthcare delivery and ensure that NHIS subscribers receive the benefits guaranteed under the scheme.
