‘This has to be fake’ – Gabby on mandatory NHIS for foreigners

A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has expressed dismay about the proposed mandatory National Health Insurance Scheme policy for foreign nationals visiting Ghana.

According to reports, the new policy would require foreign nationals arriving in Ghana to purchase a compulsory health insurance policy ranging from $45 to $270 before being admitted into the country, starting on Monday, July 1, 2024.

But the staunch NPP member, Mr Otchere-Darko, publicly expressed disagreement with the decision by the government.

In a post on his X profile on Tuesday, June 18, he wrote, “Oh how? This has to be fake”.

Ghana introduced the mandatory health insurance policy to ensure that all visitors receive the necessary healthcare services during their stay.

The policy mandates that all non-resident visitors entering Ghana must enroll in a scheme that provides them with free healthcare access.

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The policy applies to visitors who enter through airports with a visa or visa on arrival, and it is dependent on their duration of stay in Ghana.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), launched the “National Non-resident Visitors Health Insurance” policy in February 2024.

The move targets non-residents visiting Ghana for less than six months in any period of 12 months.

During the launch of the policy, the former Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, indicated that the introduction of the policy was in tandem with the operationalisation of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852).

According to him, the Act mandates the provision of quality and accessible healthcare for both residents and non-residents of the country.

Additionally, it stipulates that these services should be covered under a national health insurance scheme to ensure equitable access to healthcare and improve the quality of life for all.