7+ hour, 50+ min ago (296+ words) The Member of Parliament for Garu and a member of the Health Committee, Dr. Thomas Anaba, has endorsed the government's decision to increase tariffs for healthcare service providers under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), describing it as a necessary step to improve healthcare delivery. His comments come after the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 1, revealed plans to significantly adjust NHIS tariffs upward. The Minister said the move responds to persistent complaints from health facilities that the current tariff structure is unrealistic and financially unsustainable. Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Tuesday, December 2, the Garu MP noted that the increase is justified, especially after the government uncapped the NHIS levy to make more resources available for the scheme. According to him, the increment will provide hospitals with the financial capacity they have…...

6+ day, 6+ hour ago (235+ words) The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, has raised concerns over illegal fees being charged at certain health facilities across the country. Speaking on Channel One TV's The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Wednesday, November 26, Dr. Bampoe said, "We've a challenge of illegal fees at hospitals." Dr. Victor Bampoe highlighted efforts to curb illegal out-of-pocket payments demanded from patients at hospitals. He said the NHIA is implementing a three-point vision aimed at improving patients' experiences in healthcare facilities. "I have a three-point vision, and one point is looking at having patients have a beautiful experience when they go to hospitals. In many hospitals, that is not happening now because they are asked to pay out-of-pocket," he said. Dr. Bampoe noted that some health providers claim NHIA tariffs are not realistic,…...

2+ mon, 3+ day ago (365+ words) Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, has demanded that the Ministry of Health produce supporting documents for a payment of GHS802,725 made towards the proposed construction of a CHPS compound in Kwanyako Asuogyaman. Raising concerns during a PAC sitting in Accra on Monday, September 29, Osei-Asare questioned why such a significant capital expenditure lacked documentation when reviewed by the Auditor-General. "This is a capital expenditure item. Before you make any payment on capital expenditure, you need to attach the relevant documents necessary for the payments to go through," she stressed. She added that the lack of receipts or supporting documents for such a large payment is unacceptable and undermines transparency and accountability. "It is a must that when you make payments, you get your receipt to show proof of payment. When auditors come " especially for a capital expenditure item…...

2+ mon, 3+ week ago (337+ words) For many, the word "insurance" immediately evokes images of hospital visits, government-issued health cards, and medical emergencies. And for a long time, that was my understanding too. Like many others raised under national healthcare systems, I saw health insurance as the cornerstone of care, a card granting access to treatment and shielding families from financial ruin in times of illness. But as I began to explore the world beyond the clinic walls, I quickly discovered that health insurance is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Insurance, I learned, is not just about safeguarding your physical well-being; it's about managing risk in virtually every area of life. From the moment we get behind the wheel to when we invest in property or even start a business, insurance serves as a financial buffer against the unexpected. At its core, insurance…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago (220+ words) Insurance penetration in Ghana remained low in 2024, holding at 1.0% based on gross premiums " the same level recorded in 2023. This is according to the 2024 Financial Stability Review. Under the Insurance Service Revenue metric introduced by IFRS 17 (Insurance Contracts), penetration for 2024 was lower at 0.63%. The report anticipates that digitalisation, product innovation, inclusive insurance schemes, and sustained public education could drive penetration higher in the coming years. Insurance density " the average per capita spend on insurance rose to GH202.40 in 2024 from GH195 in 2023. This growth reflects larger average policy sizes or improved disposable incomes, indicating a modest easing of economic strain on households and businesses. The non-life retention ratio was 73% in 2024, up from 69% in 2023, signalling the sector's potential to better utilise local capacity and reduce reliance on external reinsurance markets. However, overseas reinsurance premium transfers increased significantly, with the National Insurance Commission (NIC) approving GH814 million…...