The People's National Party (PNP) has raised issues on the current state of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), decrying what it describes as being on the verge of collapse.

According to the party, the current state of the scheme dangerously mirrors the discredited "cash-and-carry" era it was designed to eliminate.

In a statement issued by PNP leader and founder, Janet Asana Nabla, the party lamented that the original vision of the NHIS, championed by renowned physician and politician Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, has been eroded under successive administrations.

“The NHIA was the brainchild of Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, who left his post at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to pursue political leadership with a mission to abolish the cruel cash-and-carry system that was killing thousands of poor Ghanaians. Although Dr Mahama did not become President, his proposal was adopted by successive governments and implemented for the benefit of all Ghanaians. Today, that legacy is being dismantled,” the statement read.

Citing a recent personal ordeal, Ms Nabla claimed that her cousin was charged GHS 1,636.40 at a government hospital for pharmaceuticals, laboratory tests, and basic consumables, despite being a valid NHIS cardholder.

She maintained that this is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a broader systemic failure that continues to inflict hardship on ordinary citizens.

Key demands and recommendations

The PNP is demanding that the government, through the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority, publicly acknowledge the current status of the NHIA as a co-payment system. The party is also calling for swift remedial action, including:

• Restoring the NHIA to its original purpose of providing genuinely free and accessible healthcare.
• Supplying public hospitals and health centres with essential logistics and medical resources.
• Eliminating all out-of-pocket payments for services covered under the NHIA.
• Investigating the causes of co-payment practices and ensuring accountability across the board.

The party proposed a set of structural reforms to enhance the sustainability of the scheme, including:

• An immediate review of NHIA tariffs to reflect current market prices, thereby curbing the emergence of illegal charges.
• The introduction of dedicated sin taxes on alcohol and tobacco products to generate additional revenue for the NHIA.
• Full, direct, and prompt transfer of the 2.5% NHIA levy into the scheme’s account, in accordance with Dr Mahama’s original policy prescription.
• Reducing the reimbursement window for healthcare service providers from three months to one month, to prevent illicit charges and operational paralysis at public facilities.

A call to action

“The current trajectory of the NHIA endangers lives and violates the social contract between government and citizens,” the PNP warned. “We call on the government to act swiftly and decisively to restore dignity, trust, and equity to Ghana’s healthcare system.”