A research fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) says no reasonable person in the health sector would oppose the fundamental principle of requiring health insurance for visitors.

The fellow on Public Health, Kwame Sarpong Asiedu emphasised that such insurance is necessary to prevent visitors from using public hospitals without paying the bill, thereby preventing them from becoming a burden on the state.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Tuesday, Mr Asiedu remarked that the idea is sound: “Because in every country globally, we are going towards universal health coverage were finance should not be a barrier at the point of use of health, it will be difficult to disagree with the policy, the policy itself is not a bad thing and globally a lot of countries do it.”

However, the medical practitioner is not impressed by the level of transparency demonstrated in the process.

According to Dr Sarpong Asiedu, the policy may be in breach of several laws if it is made to stay.

"Dr Bernard Okoe Boye said this was going to start on the first of July. That gives me a lot of jitters. Because if it's not being discussed by Cabinet, how was Dr Bernard Okoe Boye unequivocal in stating the date unless of course he's telling us that Graphic is reporting false news or if they haven't, and the statement doesn't deny that and if they haven't.

"And the next thing comes in, under that what sort of law where they come in with a legislative instrument, whether they're going to go through Parliament, executive instrument and even if they were going to do that information came out yesterday. How long does it take for these instruments to mature?
So when you put it all together, then it means that one of two things is happening."

The Health Minister says the proposed mandatory health insurance policy for non-resident visitors to Ghana is still under consideration by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

Dr Bernard Okoe Boye said it has not yet been approved by the cabinet.

Earlier reports suggested that starting from July 1, 2024, foreign nationals arriving in Ghana would be required to purchase a compulsory health insurance policy ranging from $45 to $270 before being admitted into the country.

In a press release dated June 18, 2024, Dr. Okoe Boye stated, "The recent announcement regarding a mandatory health insurance policy for non-resident visitors is a proposal from the NHIA and not a government policy."

He further assured the public that any policy would be thoroughly scrutinized and would follow all necessary protocols to ensure its benefits for the people of Ghana before being implemented.