An amount of GHC10 billion has been allocated to the 2025 formula for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) following approval by the Parliament of Ghana on Friday, May 30.

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The 2025 formula for the NHIF stipulates the efficient distribution of resources across various healthcare services and administrative expenses.

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The proposed formula for the disbursement of the fund is as follows: 2025 claims of GHc6.5 billion (65.1%), National Health Insurance Authority’s operational expenses of GHc1.2 billion (12.3%), support to the National Health Insurance Scheme District offices amounting to GHc124 million (1.2%), and GH¢984 million allocated to the Ministry of Health, representing 9.8 percent.

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The NHIF provides financial backing for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), a social intervention programme intended to provide access to healthcare for all Ghanaians.

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Addressing the media at Parliament House last Friday, the Minister for Health, Hon. Mintah Akandoh, explained that the allocation of GHC 10 billion to the fund marks a GHC4 billion increment compared to the allocation to the fund in 2024.

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He further outlined how the extra funds would be used in various aspects of healthcare services.

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"Due to the uncapping of the NHIF in the 2025 Budget, excess funds will be directed toward supporting primary healthcare and filling the revenue gap created by the withdrawal of donor support to the health sector,” the sector minister explained.

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Mr Akandoh indicated that, beyond the aforementioned allocations, the NHIF would also allocate funds towards dialysis treatment under the NHIS.

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"Beyond these allocations, the NHIF will also provide funding for dialysis treatment under the NHIS. The Mahama Care initiative will ensure funding for chronic non-communicable diseases, including stroke and kidney infections,” he said.

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According to Mr Akandoh, the move has been necessitated by available statistics, which have attributed 45 percent of mortality in the country to non-communicable diseases (NCDs); therefore, the Mahama Care initiative would provide funding for chronic NCDs, including stroke and kidney infections.

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The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is funded through a combination of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions, and returns on NHIF investments.

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The NHIF ensures that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), established by the government in 2003, provides financial access to quality healthcare for Ghanaians.

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In a related development, NHIA, about a week ago, paid an additional amount of GHS259,546,601 to deserving credentialed healthcare providers.

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The payment made to the public, mission, quasi-public and private facilities was sanctioned by the Chief Executive of the Authority, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe.

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A portion of the total, GHS112,607,239, representing 43 percent, was paid to public facilities in May, while private facilities received GHS104,643,070, signifying 40 percent.

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Mission facilities received an amount of GHS40,015,892, representing 15 percent, whereas quasi-public facilities paid GHS2,280,399.08, which implies 1 percent.

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So far this year, the NHIA has paid GHS1,103,028,808 in claims to credentialed healthcare providers nationwide.

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