By Bright Philip Donkor
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to transform Ghana’s health insurance landscape.
Speaking during a Private Health Insurance Schemes (PHIS) stakeholder engagement in Accra, held under the theme: Strengthening partnerships for a sustainable private health insurance industry”, he stressed the importance of aligning private health insurance schemes with government policy to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
Authority’s mandate
Dr. Bampoe reminded stakeholders that under Act 852 of 2012, the NHIA is tasked not only with managing the NHIS but also regulating, supervising, and promoting the growth of private health insurance schemes. “This mandate is essential because private health insurance complements the NHIS, offering additional options and financial protection for households, while easing the burden on the citizenry,” he explained.
Dr. Bampoe highlighted a number of key priorities the NHIA will pursue in the coming months. He noted that central to these reforms is the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care initiative and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares.
He said: “As you are all aware, Ghana has begun preparation towards rollout of the Free Primary Health Care and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) initiatives to boost Ghana’s advancement towards attaining Universal Health Coverage by 2030. As industry players, we must align our strategies with these national priorities to ensure that PHIS products complement government policy, add value to the Ghanaian citizen’s choices and fill gaps where additional coverage may be needed.”
Pricing
On the issue of pricing, Dr. Bampoe said the Authority would work with stakeholders to standardise tariffs across the industry. This, he said, was necessary to “ensure fairness, prevent distortions, and create a transparent environment where consumers receive value and health providers and schemes compete on efficiency and service quality rather than unsustainable pricing and undercutting.”
He also pointed to capacity building as a critical area of reform. “We recognise the urgent need to build industry-wide capacity. NHIA will engage expert consultants to design tailored training programs that cater to all levels of PHIS staff—from management to frontline officers. This investment in human capital will uplift standards, enhance professionalism, and align operations with global best practices.”
To encourage innovation and excellence, Dr. Bampoe announced that the Authority would institute annual PHIS Industry Awards to recognise compliance, efficiency, customer service, and innovation. At the same time, regulatory guidelines will be updated “to reflect emerging market realities, close loopholes in the existing guidelines, and provide clear direction on acceptable practices.”
Digitalisation
Digitalisation, he explained, would be at the heart of reforms. “We are committed to leveraging technology to simplify and speed up our processes. The Authority is working on digital platforms that will enable faster registration and renewal of licenses, improve data collection, and enhance monitoring and supervision in real time.”
The NHIA boss was also candid about challenges, particularly recurring regulatory breaches. He warned against “undercutting of premiums, which destabilises the market and threatens sustainability,” as well as overdue premium receivables, engagement of non-credentialed health providers, and the activities of unlicensed entities. “Such practices are unlawful, erode public trust, and undermine collective progress,” he warned, adding that the NHIA would “bring such entities to book in line with its regulatory mandate” and apply sanctions where necessary.
Collaboration
Dr. Bampoe stated: “The NHIA envisions a future where the National Health Insurance Scheme and Private Health Insurance Schemes are collaborators, contributing to the health and economic security of Ghanaians. Achieving this requires innovation, strong regulatory compliance, investment in technology, and trust and accountability among all players.”
He further reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to partnership and reform. “On behalf of the NHIA, there’s gratitude for continued partnership and commitment. Together, the goal is to build a resilient private health insurance ecosystem that complements the NHIS and secures the health of every Ghanaian. May today’s engagement be fruitful and impactful, marking a turning point in the PHIS industry,” he added.
About The Author
