Gov’t to employ 70,000 health workers as NHIS hits 15.7million enrolment – Health Minister
The Minister of Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured the public that the government is working urgently to address the backlog of over 70,000 unemployed health professionals across the country.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Friday, July 18, Mr Akandoh acknowledged the scale of the unemployment challenge in the health sector but emphasised the administration’s commitment to resolving it.
“We recognise the challenge of over 70,000 qualified health workers currently awaiting employment, but I want to assure you that we are working tirelessly to clear this backlog,” he said.
According to the minister, more than 10,000 nurses and midwives have been employed in the past six months, with further recruitments expected in the coming months.
He also addressed concerns from pharmacists awaiting placement, revealing that salary arrears for 321 House Officer pharmacists who completed training in 2024 are being processed.
“While 1,621 qualified pharmacists await permanent employment, we are prioritising their recruitment as part of strengthening our health workforce,” he stated.
Mr Akandoh said the government’s strategy was not limited to nurses and pharmacists alone. “This is just one example of our broader commitment to clearing the backlog across all health worker cadres, ensuring every qualified professional has the chance to serve and strengthen Ghana’s health system,” he added.
Turning to developments in health financing, the Minister revealed that the government had fully settled arrears owed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by the end of December 2024, amounting to GH¢603 million.
“This milestone demonstrates our commitment and the government’s steadfast dedication to timely payment and fulfilling our obligation in healthcare financing,” Mr Akandoh declared.
He said the current administration had outperformed previous governments in releasing funds to the NHIS, adding, “Let me put on record that in the history of the NHIA, no government has paid or released money from the consolidated funds to the National Health Insurance Fund more promptly than this government. We are doing it on a monthly basis.”
In addition to clearing arrears, Mr Akandoh highlighted substantial gains in NHIS enrolment. Between 2024 and mid-2025, he noted, over 670,000 new members joined the scheme, increasing total enrolment to 15.67 million.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today, 15.67 million Ghanaians are enrolled in the NHIS – an increase of over 670,000 from last year. What this means is that 670,000 more Ghanaians are now benefiting from health insurance coverage,” he announced.
He attributed the growth to improved financing mechanisms, regular claims payments, and structural reforms that have improved service delivery across the healthcare system.
“In the first half of 2025 alone, the NHIA disbursed over GH¢1.38 billion to providers, reflecting a system that is stronger, more responsive, and more reliable than ever before,” the minister noted.
Mr Akandoh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring universal access to quality healthcare and maintaining the financial sustainability of the NHIS.
