Ghana’s Social Health Insurance Model has been recognized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and singled out for the coveted South-South Cooperation Excellence Award, in Geneva, Switzerland.

This followed a presentation by Mr. Sylvester A. Mensah, Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) at the Global South-South Development Expo 2010, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 22, 2010 to November 26, 2010, at which he highlighted the operational dynamics and successes of the Ghanaian health insurance experience, including the way forward and expectations for the period ending 2012 and beyond.

The World Health Organization and United Nations Development Programme acknowledged that Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme has improved financial access to healthcare services, particularly for the poor and marginalized.

Ghana’s health insurance scheme was lauded for the proposed legal reforms, clinical audit mechanisms and for serving as a hub for knowledge-sharing and learning within the context of South-South Cooperation.

Presenting the award to Ghana, Ambassador Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, Deputy Permanent Representative and President of the High-Level Committee for South-South Cooperation, cited Ghana for playing host to a number of developing countries intending to improve upon their health insurance schemes and hoped that Ghana would sustain and achieve further successes through its home-grown demand-driven initiatives and strategies.

She implored management of the NHIS to document its operations and develop protocols to reduce the learning curve for other countries in their quest to succeed in removing financial barriers to healthcare.