President John Dramani Mahama addressed the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) on Tuesday, warning health facilities that continue to extract money from patients despite the presentation of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards. He directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to intensify monitoring and impose sanctions on any facility found charging unauthorized fees.
Speaking to GMA delegates, the President said he had received complaints that some providers were demanding payments even after patients had shown their NHIS cards to access services covered by the scheme. "I’ve just received complaints that despite the fact that people present their NHIS cards, still money is extracted from them before they receive service. The NHIA is putting a service and going from facility to facility, and any facility caught charging extra fees outside the insurance will be dealt with," he stated.
Mahama urged the NHIA to identify and sanction facilities that impose unauthorised charges, adding that the government would support the authority and healthcare providers in preventing fraud and waste within the scheme. He noted that the improved financial predictability of the NHIS should enable health facilities to procure medical supplies and sustain healthcare delivery without imposing unauthorised charges on patients.
The President’s remarks come amid growing concerns over patient out‑of‑pocket expenses in a system that promises free care for insured individuals. The NHIA has previously warned that any breach of the scheme’s regulations could lead to penalties, but this latest directive signals a more aggressive stance from the executive branch.
Health officials are expected to roll out a monitoring framework over the coming weeks, with the NHIA reportedly preparing to conduct site visits and audits of hospitals and clinics nationwide. Patients who have experienced extra charges are encouraged to report incidents to the NHIA for investigation.
Looking ahead, Mahama emphasized that stronger measures are needed to protect the resources allocated to the NHIS, suggesting that the government will work closely with the NHIA and healthcare providers to safeguard the scheme’s integrity. The President concluded that the scheme’s financial stability would ultimately benefit all Ghanaians by ensuring that medical services remain accessible and affordable.
