Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has outlined broad reforms across the country's healthcare system, highlighting gains in insurance coverage, upcoming primary healthcare interventions, and expanded workforce deployment.

The Minister reported a significant turnaround in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) following key structural reforms.

He noted that the government’s decision to uncap NHIS funds has restored prompt payments to service providers, rebuilding confidence in the scheme. As a result, subscriber numbers have risen sharply from 18 million to about 20 million within a year indicating renewed public trust in the system.

He also announced major policy measures scheduled to take effect in 2026 that the government will roll out free primary healthcare supported by a GH¢1.5 billion intervention fund. The initiative will prioritise preventive, promotive, and early-detection services, all integrated under the NHIS.

To address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, he said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as the Mahama Cares Fund, has been activated with GH¢2.3 billion and has begun supporting patients.

Mr Akandoh also detailed efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce.

He stated that 13,500 nurses have been placed on government payroll this year, while 700 medical doctors are currently being deployed nationwide, with a focus on underserved districts.

The government has additionally paid GH¢500 million in nursing training allowances arrears, with a further GH¢231 million expected to be released in early December.

The Minister’s presentation highlighted a health sector undergoing expansive reforms supported by substantial funding.

However, he acknowledged that these gains are occurring alongside major financial constraints imposed by legacy contracts, including the high fixed costs of the Zipline drone delivery service.

In August, a 24-hour call centre for handling patient complaints across hospitals in the country was introduced by the Health Minister, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

The minister made this known at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, August 21, explaining that the initiative will provide the public with a direct channel to report their displeasure regarding healthcare services. “The best you can do is lodge a complaint. And that brings me to the client service. So this is what we are doing. We have some numbers available where if people feel dissatisfied, you can then call,” he said.

He assured that complaints to the hotline will be managed fairly, but emphasized that this does not automatically mean all complaints will be considered right. “The fact that you have called to lodge a complaint doesn’t mean that you are right. We will look into the matter and then appropriately deal with it,” he stated.

He added that hospitals have been instructed to display the hotline numbers boldly at facilities to make them easily accessible to patients nationwide. “We have communicated directly to all the health facilities in the country, to the Director-General and the teaching hospitals, that they must make these suggestion boxes and numbers conspicuously posted at all health facilities. So it is something I am pursuing aggressively,” he said.

Mr. Akandoh noted that the measure seeks to promote accountability and raise the standard of service delivery in the health sector. Just days earlier, the Health Minister confirmed that the Ridge Hospital incident that saw the assault of health practitioners had led to several arrests by the Ghana Police Service.

“The law has so far dealt with all those who did something wrong, and we are also investigating as a ministry. Anyone who comes to tell you that no arrest has been made in this matter is probably someone who is not ready to contribute to the resolution of this matter,” the Minister told Asempa FM on August 19, without disclosing the names of the suspects.

The arrests stemmed from an incident involving a member of the pressure group Democracy Hub, Mr. Ralph Afful Williams, popularly known as “Fellow Ghanaians.” He reportedly stormed the hospital with about eight men, protesting what he described as delays in treating a critically injured patient.

Hospital management was forced to call in the Ghana Police Service after the situation escalated into the assault of a nurse. Following the incident, several groups and individuals demanded the arrest of Ralph Williams, describing his actions as unlawful.

In response, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to arrest Ralph and his accomplices. The association warned that it would be compelled to “advise itself” if immediate action was not taken.

According to the GRNMA’s General Secretary, Dr. David Tenkorang Twum, the nurse who was attacked sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital. He described the assault as unacceptable and stressed that health workers cannot operate in an unsafe environment.

“If anybody can just walk into a facility, like Ridge Hospital, and throw his weight about and beat like a midwife, and you have other party apparatchiks telling them to egg him on, that is unfortunate. We are not happy at all. Our people are traumatized,” he stated.

He continued, “We are very civilized people. We are professionals. And we are asking the government to arrest the guy immediately and the eight accomplices; we were told there were about 50 guys that day. But those who laid their hands on the lady—there were about eight, including Ralph himself. And therefore, if he’s not arrested within 48 hours, we shall advise ourselves.”

Dr. Tenkorang also referenced Section 119 of Ghana’s Labour Act, which empowers workers to withdraw their services if their health and safety are at risk.

“And we are all guided by law. In that, if you read section 119, subsection 1, it is stated that if you are a worker and you think that your safety is not guaranteed, your life and your health are not guaranteed, and you have every right under the law to remove yourself from that danger. And our people have told us this morning, after interacting with them, that they are not safe. They feel that their safety has been breached,” he said.

The association insists that both Ralph Williams and the eight identified accomplices must be arrested immediately to restore confidence and ensure justice for the victim. Their demand follows the circulation of a viral video showing a violent altercation between some patient relatives and medical staff at the hospital’s emergency department.

The Minority in Parliament has also intensified calls for Ralph’s arrest. In a statement dated Tuesday, August 19, and signed by the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, the group condemned the actions of Ralph and his team.

They described the conduct as “unlawful, reckless, and deeply inconsiderate,” stressing that hospitals are places of care and confidentiality, not “arenas for political theatrics.” The Minority urged the Ghana Police Service to fully investigate the matter and called on the Health Minister to set up a joint parliamentary inquiry to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

“The sanctity of our health facilities must be preserved at all times,” the statement concluded, urging political actors to refrain from compromising patient care for partisan ends.

In response, the Ministry of Health has announced measures to beef up security at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. The Ministry said this will ensure the safety of staff, patients, and the general public, while also addressing any gaps that may have contributed to the reported delay in treatment.

Reiterating its commitment to protecting healthcare workers, the Ministry confirmed that Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has already visited the facility to receive firsthand information. He assured hospital management and staff of the Ministry’s full support and protection.

“We call on the public to exercise patience, cooperation, and mutual respect at all times to enable healthcare workers to provide effective and timely care,” the Ministry of Health added in a statement.