Government disbursed GH¢2.69bn to NHIS providers in 2025 - Minister
The government paid a total of GH¢2.69 billion to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) service providers last year, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has told Parliament. He further disclosed that GH¢1.5 billion was transferred to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund within the same year.
Commitment to payment discipline
Answering a question in Parliament today, Mr Akandoh assured the House that the government was committed to restoring payment discipline and improving claims management. This, he said, would ensure that annual claims expenditure was consistently matched by payments and prevent arrears from building up.
“That would allow providers to deliver services to NHIS members without disruption,” he added.
He noted that the commitment was already being reflected in improved payment performance. “In 2025, claims processing and payment accelerated to the point that payments were made faster than the three-month window stipulated under the NHIS Act,” he said.
Decline and rebound in payments
Mr Akandoh provided the claims figures for the years 2020 to 2023 in response to a question by Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, who asked for details of the claims amounts and types for each year.
The minister said the government paid claims of GH¢1.37 billion in 2020, GH¢1.101 billion in 2021, GH¢963.23 million in 2022, and GH¢2.25 billion in 2023.
“This shows a decline in payments up to 2022 before a significant rebound in 2023,” he said.
He identified 2022 as the most critical year, when claims expenditure reached GH¢1.60 billion but only GH¢963.23 million was paid, creating a shortfall of about GH¢638.97 million. “That shortfall translated directly into increased arrears and heightened pressure on service providers,” he said.
“The subsequent increase in payments in 2023 reflects, in part, the need to clear accumulated arrears from earlier years,” Mr Akandoh added.
Agenda 111 District Hospital update
The minister also provided an update on the Agenda 111 district hospital in Anyaa Sowutuom constituency, following a question by MP Emmanuel Tobbin of Anyaa Sowutuom.
Mr Akandoh said the Ministry of Finance had formally notified the Ministry of Health on 13 February last year to incorporate Agenda 111 projects into the 2025 budget and beyond. The ministry has since captured the programme in its 2025 budget.
Following a handover directive from the Presidency, the ministry took charge of the projects and commissioned Architectural and Engineering Services Limited to conduct a special audit, whose report has already been submitted.
“In due course, the ministry will finalise a strategic implementation plan for Agenda 111 and engage the Ministry of Finance for the necessary guidance and support towards a dedicated budgetary allocation,” he said.
He further outlined plans to explore complementary financing options, including support from private partners.
“Mr Speaker, the Ministry remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the timely and successful delivery of the district hospital for the people of Anyaa Sowutuom and the wider Ga Central Municipality,” he concluded.
