Parliament has approved the sum of Ghc 9,261,110,000 for the year ending December 31, 2026, for the operations of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The approval is in line with the distribution formula of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and is intended to enable the Authority to effectively execute its mandate of financing healthcare services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The decision followed the adoption of the Committee of the Whole report on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, after deliberations on the NHIA’s expenditure estimates of the year.
Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Kwame Etse Dafeamekpor who presented the report on behalf the Chairman of the Committee, First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor said the allocation was critical to sustain the social intervention programme, which continues to serve as the primary mechanism for improving access to healthcare for citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
Strengthening healthcare financing
The National Health Insurance Fund is the statutory funding mechanism for the NHIS, established under the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852) and further strengthened by the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Act 950).
The Fund is designed to mobilise and manage financial resources for the payment of healthcare services provided to insured members across the country.
Under the law, the NHIF is used to:
Pay claims to accredited healthcare providers,
Cover approved administrative expenses of the NHIA,
Finance investments that promote access to quality healthcare services.
Sources of funding for the NHIF include:
The National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) on selected goods and services,
A percentage of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions,
Premiums paid by informal sector subscribers,
Grants, donations and investment income.
Members of Parliament emphasized the need for the NHIA to prioritise timely reimbursement to healthcare providers, noting that delays in claims payments often lead to shortages of essential medicines, reduced service quality and occasional refusal of facilities to accept NHIS cards.
The Committee also urged the Authority to strengthen its claims management systems, including the use of digital platforms and clinical auditing, to curb fraud and reduce inefficiencies in the scheme.
The NHIA is expected to improve information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, intensify public education and stakeholder engagement and support administrative reforms aimed at improving accountability and service delivery.
Expanding coverage and benefits
Ghana’s NHIS currently covers more than 95 percent of disease conditions reported in the country, including outpatient services, essential drugs, maternity care, emergency services and selected surgical procedures.
The Scheme also provides exemptions for specific categories of people, including: Children under 18 years, pregnant women, the elderly aged 70 and above, Indigents and beneficiaries of social protection programmes such as LEAP.
Parliament noted that the 2026 budget would support the government’s broader agenda of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improving equity in access to healthcare.
Members of the House also encouraged the NHIA to explore innovative financing strategies and prudent investment of surplus funds, as allowed under the Act, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Scheme.
With the approval of the Ghc 9.2 billion allocation, Parliament expressed optimism that the NHIA would be better positioned in 2026 to meet its obligations, improve service quality and deepen public trust in Ghana’s national health insurance system.
By: Christian Kpesese
