The government has disbursed GH¢2.6 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to settle outstanding claims and debts owed to health service providers.

This was announced by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on March 9 during a presentation on the floor of Parliament.

Addressing Parliament, the minister explained that the payment was aimed at settling arrears accumulated from previous years and restoring confidence among healthcare providers who rely on the scheme for reimbursements.

He also disclosed that the government has disbursed another GH¢1.5 billion to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Care, as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.

“Government has paid a total of GH¢2.6 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme this year to clear claims and debts owed to service providers,” Mr Akandoh told the House while giving an account of the government’s disbursement to settle the debt owned the nation’s health insurance scheme.

The Health Minister disclosed while responding to questions from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, during proceedings on the floor of Parliament.

He also criticised what he described as the persistent build-up of NHIS arrears under the previous administration, noting that although GH¢5.68 billion was paid in claims between 2020 and 2023, debts continued to accumulate within the system.

The minister argued that the current payments are intended to address those structural challenges while improving the financial sustainability of the scheme.

Meanwhile, the headquarters of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund has officially been commissioned by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh, together with the Administrator of the Trust Fund, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, and her team.

This marks a significant milestone in establishing a home for the Fund’s growing operations and nationwide initiatives.

The occasion represents more than the opening of a building. It signifies a foundation of hope, a commitment to sustainability, and a future where every Ghanaian can access quality healthcare with dignity and ease.

From the provision of essential medical equipment to the training and capacity building of health professionals, financial support mechanisms, direct patient care, and the development of research and data systems, the Fund continues to advance its mandate to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.

With visionary leadership and the unwavering support of our partners, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund stands ready to deliver on its mission to heal, to serve, and to build a healthier nation, one life at a time.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, part of the MahamaCares initiative, was officially unveiled to offer financial assistance to individuals battling long-term and life-threatening illnesses.

The launch ceremony was held at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra on Tuesday, April 29.

The fund has been designed to ease the financial burden on patients suffering from chronic conditions, including kidney disease, cancer, and cardiovascular ailments.

The MahamaCares initiative is expected to enhance access to critical treatment for vulnerable groups across the country, providing timely support where medical costs often become a barrier to care.

President John Dramani Mahama became the first major contributor to the initiative as he pledged to donate half of his annual salary.

He recalled how his father died of prostate cancer in 2001, followed by his mother’s passing in 2016 due to hypertension-related complications. He also shared the case of a staff member whose child requires expensive weekly dialysis to survive.

Calling on businesses to follow suit, the president urged the private sector to consider supporting the fund as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.

“I want to encourage corporate Ghana, businesses, the mines, the banks, and all the other companies that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is coming to your clients who save their money in your banks or do business with you. Some of them are even your own staff.

“So, as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), if you give anything, consider that you are giving to your own staff or customers. So, I would like to encourage all corporations in Ghana, both private and public, to, at the end of the year, donate some portion of their annual CSR to the Ghana Medical Fund because it is going to do a lot of good to the country,” he stated.