By Jibril Abdul Mumuni/ Eugenia Otenwaa
Accra, March 4, GNA – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, says less than 60 per cent of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) budget is currently allocated to claim payments.
He emphasised the significant financing shortfalls the NHIS currently faces, exacerbated by the capping law, which had limited the full allocation of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL).
Making the disclosure at the National Economic Dialogue in Accra on Tuesday, he said: “The diversion of resources towards non-core activities has severely hindered the efficiency of the NHIS pool.”
“Today, less than 60 per cent of the NHIS budget is directed towards claim payments, which is a critical area for the scheme’s sustainability.”
The Finance Minister pointed out that the misuse of resources within the Scheme was a growing concern.
He highlighted the diversion of the remaining funds to non-essential activities, further straining the scheme’s ability to meet its core mandate.
“This misallocation of resources is not only affecting the scheme’s efficiency but also undermining public trust in our healthcare system,” he noted.
Dr Forson called for immediate reforms to address those challenges, including stricter expenditure controls and a re-evaluation of the capping law to ensure the full allocation of the National Health Insurance levy to the scheme.
“We must prioritise the efficient use of resources within the NHIS to ensure that continues to provide essential healthcare services to all Ghanaians,” he said.
GNA