Release NHIL to NHIA account -NHIA Boss to gov’t

The management of the National Health Insurance Authority is recommending changes to the NHIA’s founding statute to redistribute levies within the authority’s budget. Currently, the NHIA requires certification from the Finance Ministry before accessing the consolidated accounts containing the profits of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL).

Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, CEO of the NHIA, stated that changing the current statute could result in around eight billion cedis collected through the NHIL being used for healthcare services annually. He emphasized the importance of funds collected through the NHIL being allocated to NHIL accounts to benefit the people.

Dr. Aboagye made these remarks at the 24th Annual Public Lecture of the Ghana Medical Association. The theme of the lecture was “Developing a holistic healthcare financing for the ordinary Ghanaian: Beyond the National Health Insurance Scheme.”

Act 650, which established the NHIA, requires a 2.5 percent fee on imported or domestically delivered products and services to ensure the smooth operation of the program. There are proposals to direct this fee into the NHIL’s account, and Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has assured that these ideas are being considered to maintain the stability of the program.

With 28 million individuals registered in the program, 17.8 million are active, according to NHIA statistics. Healthcare practitioners have raised concerns about low tariffs leading to copayments in the program’s restructuring.

Dr. Aboagye outlined steps being taken, including implementing an automated adjustment formula to address this issue in the long term. He mentioned establishing a tariff review committee based on economic conditions and inflation to assess prices of goods and services.