NHIA Targets Better Healthcare, Financial Sustainability Under New Strategic Plan

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has called on its regional and district offices to focus on improving members’ healthcare experiences, strengthening financial sustainability and rebuilding public trust as it implements its 2026–2029 Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP).

This was made during a stakeholder engagement organised by the Western and Central Regional Offices on Wednesday to discuss the plan’s priorities and ensure they are reflected in operational work plans, budgets and measurable performance targets.

The meeting brought together NHIA regional and district staff, representatives of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and public, private and faith-based healthcare providers.

Speaking at the event, the Central Regional Director, Kojo Koi Sekyere Thompson, described the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as an important tool for making healthcare accessible and affordable. Adding that the new strategic plan would guide decision-making and help drive improvements in service delivery.

Presentations were led by the Acting Director of Research, Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation (RPME), Suleyman Abass; Deputy Director, Collins Akuamoah; and Senior Manager, Rosemary Mensah, with Rev. Michael Aidoo moderating the session.

The plan is built around five strategic pillars: Universal Health Coverage, Quality of Care, Financial Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Innovation, and Institutional Excellence.

Reviewing the 2022–2025 strategic plan, the Deputy Director, Collins Akuamoah, reported an overall performance of 71.3 per cent. Key achievements included the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), the digitalisation of claims processing and an increase in active NHIS membership to more than 20 million.

With the NHIL accounting for approximately 80 per cent of NHIS funding, the new strategic plan places greater emphasis on financial sustainability, efficient claims management, improved data systems and stronger institutional accountability.

He noted that rising claims expenditure, unauthorised charges to members, low membership retention and differences in healthcare quality continue to pose challenges to the Scheme.

The Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Oswald Essuah-Mensah, urged regional and district offices to align their activities and budgets with the plan’s objectives, stressing that its success should be measured by tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and members’ experiences.

He said the Authority needed to look beyond enrolment figures and assess the actual benefits members received when accessing services under the Scheme. Mr Essuah-Mensah emphasised that addressing the gap between the NHIS and members’ expectations was essential to restoring confidence in the Scheme.

“Beyond the enrolment dashboard, there is the need to focus on the impact felt by our members when they access healthcare services under the Scheme,” he said.

Grace Acheampong, ISD