Ghana’s health insurance coverage hits 76% as Mahama sets 90% target

President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that Ghana’s national health insurance coverage currently stands at 76 percent, with government targeting an increase to 90 percent as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

According to President Mahama, while reaching 90 percent coverage would represent significant progress, it would still leave a portion of the population without access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 28th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Accra, he said government was therefore implementing additional healthcare interventions to complement the NHIS.

“Ghana’s health agenda is anchored on equity, equality, and sustainability. We are strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme, and we currently have a national coverage of 76 percent. We are hoping to push up to 90 percent,” President Mahama said.

He said government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme was one of the key interventions aimed at closing the remaining gaps in access to healthcare.

The President explained that the programme was partly modelled on Kenya’s free primary healthcare system and has so far been introduced in about 160 of Ghana’s 260 districts.

He said government intends to extend the programme to the remaining 100 districts to ensure more Ghanaians, particularly those in underserved rural communities, can access essential healthcare services.

President Mahama said the programme would also strengthen preventive healthcare and provide free treatment at CHPS compounds and mobile health kiosks for people who may otherwise struggle to access healthcare facilities.

“They can go to any of the CHPS compounds, the mobile health kiosk, and receive treatment free of charge without showing any identification,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the World Health Organization, development partners and the government of Kenya for their support and contribution to Ghana’s efforts to expand primary healthcare.

Beyond primary healthcare, President Mahama said government was also using the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to protect people living with chronic and high-cost medical conditions from financial hardship.

He said the combined interventions were designed to ensure that the cost of healthcare does not prevent citizens from seeking treatment when they need it.

“We’re pursuing free primary healthcare so that cost does not prevent people from receiving essential care at the point of need. Through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund too, we are seeking to protect persons living with chronic and high-cost conditions from financial hardship,” he said.

President Mahama said the initiatives formed part of government’s broader strategy to move Ghana closer to universal health coverage by improving access, reducing financial barriers and strengthening both preventive and primary healthcare delivery.