Parliament has approved a GH¢9.2 billion budget for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for the 2026 fiscal year.

The Fund will be used to finance healthcare services for members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), including consultations, medicines, surgeries and other approved treatments.

The approval follows the passage of a Bill in 2025 to amend the law governing the NHIF. Under the revised framework, 20% of funds collected by the NHIF will be allocated to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares.

The Minority caucus opposed the Bill when it was laid before Parliament on July 21, warning that diverting a portion of NHIF resources could strain the NHIS budget and affect its operations.

MahamaCares Initiative

MahamaCares is designed to provide financial assistance to individuals living with chronic diseases such as kidney failure, cancer and heart conditions. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on patients who require costly, life-saving treatment.

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund was officially launched by President John Dramani Mahama at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) on April 29, 2025, with key stakeholders from the healthcare and corporate sectors in attendance.

At the launch, President Mahama called on corporate Ghana to support the initiative as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He urged banks, mining firms and other companies to contribute, noting that beneficiaries of the Fund could include their own staff and customers.

To demonstrate commitment, the President pledged the first six months of his salary to the Fund and later committed 50% of his annual salary. Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang also pledged four months of her salary.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced a three-month salary donation, while several Cabinet ministers, including Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare and Gender Minister Naa Momo Lartey, pledged one month’s salary each. The President has further directed all government appointees to contribute at least one month’s salary.

Corporate and Institutional Support

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) has donated GH¢2.2 million worth of medicines, including cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, anti-malaria and asthma treatments.

PMAG President Dr. Samuel Tobbin said the gesture seeks to restore “hope and dignity” to vulnerable patients, describing the initiative as an opportunity for local industry to drive national development.

The Ministry of the Interior and 11 agencies under it have collectively donated GH¢1 million. The Ghana Police Service contributed GH¢580,000, while other agencies including the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO and Ghana Prisons Service also made contributions.

Interior Minister Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka donated GH¢50,000 personally, while Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi contributed GH¢30,000.

Telecel Ghana has pledged to equip three healthcare centres with HPV testing kits, digital colposcopes and biopsy instruments, with operational support for two years. The initiative is expected to screen at least 5,000 women in its first year.

Other contributions include GH¢500,000 from Alive Industries, GH¢50,000 from East Cantonment Pharmacy and GH¢5,000 from KMI Energies. Service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces have also donated one month’s basic salary.

Members of the public have been encouraged to support the initiative through the shortcode *255#, available across all mobile networks.

Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country.

The disbursement has become possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe. The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion.

Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.

Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

For the authority, its significant disbursement demonstrates its unwavering commitment to sustaining the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and ensuring that healthcare providers are resourced and motivated to deliver quality services to our cherished members.

"The NHIA remains focused on improving efficiency, enhancing provider relations, and delivering on its mandate to ensure financial access to quality healthcare for all residents of Ghana. We thank our stakeholders for their continued support and assure the public of our dedication to transparency, accountability, and timely payments," the NHIA said in a statement.

The Authority has stated that it is firstly committed to strengthening internal controls and operational efficiencies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Two months ago, the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG) suspended health insurance services for National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cardholders at all its member facilities, citing the National Health Insurance Authority's (NHIA) failure to settle outstanding claims.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Kwame Buabeng-Frimpong, on Friday, April 4, the association disclosed that the NHIA owed service providers for claims dating as far back as September and October 2024, despite multiple assurances.

The PHFAoG highlighted the severe financial strain the delays have placed on member facilities, making it increasingly difficult for them to deliver quality healthcare to NHIS beneficiaries.

The group also expressed disappointment that the NHIA had failed to honour its recent commitment to settle claims by the end of March, as outlined in a March 25, 2025, press release from the Authority.

The association has called for urgent intervention to resolve the impasse to ensure the continuity of health services for Ghanaians enrolled in the scheme.

Following the suspension, NHIA paid GH¢834 million to various healthcare providers across the country.

Presently, it is the aim of the Authority to restore public trust and confidence by reducing out-of-pocket payments through frequent tariff reviews, enhanced monitoring and public education, effective provider engagement, and stricter enforcement of NHIS policies.