The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced an ambitious plan to expand the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover every illness in Ghana by 2030.

With the scheme currently providing coverage for about 95% of illnesses, the establishment of the Medical Trust Fund, dubbed Mahama Cares, and the planned introduction of free primary healthcare, the Authority believes total coverage is within reach.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement with private health insurers, acting Chief Executive of NHIA, Dr Victor Bampoe, expressed confidence that the reforms underway will make the vision of full coverage achievable.

“Every Ghanaian everywhere can actually access healthcare without financial hardship, and by 2030, we want to ensure that we have universal health coverage across Ghana. Starting with the NHIS as it exists now, we already take care of about 95% of all disease conditions.

"So, there is the Mahama Cares initiative, the regular NHIS, and the upcoming free primary healthcare, which will help diagnose diseases quicker, screen people earlier, and provide preventive medicines,” he said.

Also speaking at the stakeholder engagement, the acting Director of the Private Health Insurance Industry, Dr William Omane-Adjeikum, raised concerns about the role of telecommunication companies in offering health insurance packages.

According to him, their activities remain largely unregulated and pose risks to the growth and sustainability of the private health insurance sector.

“There is a growing menace of some telecommunication companies partnering with certain insurance companies to roll out products that also include health insurance. These products are not known to the National Health Insurance Authority.

"The Authority is therefore sounding a caution to companies in partnership with telecom operators to desist from offering products that have any component or semblance of health insurance,” he said.

While the Authority insists it is on course to deliver universal health coverage by 2030, private sector players caution that tighter regulation and oversight will be crucial to safeguard the industry and ensure the ambitious target is met.