John Mahama warns hospitals against charging unauthorized NHIS fees

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to healthcare facilities across the country against the practice of charging patients unauthorized fees for services already covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Speaking at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the President directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to implement stricter monitoring mechanisms and apply sanctions to any institution found to be extorting money from card-holding members of the public. He emphasized that the government would not tolerate institutions that undermine the national health policy by demanding illegal payments.

The President's directive follows a surge in complaints from citizens who are reportedly being asked to pay out-of-pocket for medications and procedures that are legally entitled to be free under the national scheme. President Mahama described these "hidden charges" as unacceptable and noted that they undermine the fundamental goal of the NHIS, which is to provide affordable healthcare access to all Ghanaians. He argued that the practice of demanding extra payments even when a patient presents a valid NHIS card creates an unnecessary financial burden on the vulnerable and erodes public trust in the healthcare system.

Beyond addressing unauthorized billing, President Mahama also called for more robust measures to combat internal fraud within the NHIS ecosystem. He highlighted the urgent need to protect the financial resources allocated to the health sector, ensuring that funds are used efficiently to improve service delivery rather than being lost to administrative leakages or dishonest claims. By streamlining monitoring and enforcement, the President aims to ensure that healthcare providers remain accountable to both the state and the patients they serve.

This call to action serves as a reminder to the Ghana Medical Association and other healthcare stakeholders of their ethical and professional obligations. As the government works to strengthen the financial sustainability of the NHIS, the President’s stance signals a zero-tolerance approach toward practices that compromise the integrity of national health service delivery. Moving forward, the NHIA is expected to increase its oversight of both public and private health facilities to guarantee that the promise of universal health coverage is realized without illegal financial barriers for the citizenry.