Parliament on Wednesday, passed the National Health Insurance Fund Amendment Bill, paving the way for the transfer of 20 per cent of revenues generated by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, otherwise known as Mahama Cares.

The new legislation, if assented to by the President, would halt all input tax deductions on the National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) levy.

The allocation of 20 per cent to the Medical Trust Fund is expected to support programmes targeting non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which continue to pose major public health challenges in the country.

During the debate preceding its passage, sharp divisions emerged between the Majority and Minority Caucuses over the origins of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The NPP Minority strongly maintained that the initiative was first introduced in 2003 under President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration, which provided primary healthcare to ordinary citizens who previously had to make upfront payment before receiving medical attention.

Members of the NDC Majority Caucus, however, countered that the NHIS was conceived during the tenure of President Jerry John Rawlings.

The passage of the Bill marks a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to expand healthcare financing and strengthen support for critical health interventions.