Mandatory health insurance policy for Non-Ghanaian resident visitors starts July 1

From July 1, 2024, non-resident visitors arriving in Ghana will be required to have a health insurance policy before entry into Ghana. 

This policy is to ensure that all visitors have access to necessary healthcare services during their stay in Ghana.

The mandatory insurance policy requires all non resident visitors arriving in Ghana to be enrolled under a scheme through which they can access free health care.

The policy affects visitors who arrive through the airports on visas or through visa on arrival, depending on their length of stay in the Ghana.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Health (MoH) launched the national health insurance policy for foreigners visiting Ghana for a short period.

The policy dubbed: “National Non-resident Visitors Health Insurance”, was developed by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and other partners who will jointly oversee its implementation.

The policy pertains specifically to non-residents visiting Ghana for a period of less than six months in any period of 12 months.

At a media briefing on the modalities of the policy before its roll-out, Dr Isaac Morrison, Vice Chairman, Technical Working Group on the Visitors Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) and Member of the NHIA Board, said the move had become necessary following lessons learnt from the COVID-19, where foreign nationals fell ill and the country had to take care of them as there was no insurance in place.

He said the issue therefore prompted the activation of Section 2b of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852), which mandates the establishment of a health insurance policy for foreigners.

Currently, countries such as Sierra Leone and Egypt are implementing that scheme in Africa.

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Cabinet yet to approve mandatory health insurance for non resident visitors to start July 1 - Minister

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye has explained that Cabinet has not approved a mandatory health insurance for non resident visitors.

In a press statement issued Tuesday dawn and dated June 18, 2024, the Minister explained that it was only a proposal by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and not a policy of government.

“While the proposal aims to ensure that foreign nationals have access to healthcare during their stay in Ghana, it is important to note that it has not yet been discussed or approved by Cabinet,” the Minister stated.

Attached below is a copy of the press statement by the Ministry 

STATEMENT ON MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY FOR NONRESIDENT VISITORS.

The Ministry of Health would like to clarify that the recent announcement regarding a mandatory health insurance policy for non-Ghanaian resident visitors is a proposal from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and not a policy of government.

While the proposal aims to ensure that foreign nationals have access to healthcare during their stay in Ghana, it is important to note that it has not yet been discussed or approved by Cabinet.

We urge the public to disregard any misinformation that may suggest that the policy has been finalized and its mode of implementation settled.

We assure the public that any policy and its implementation shall be thoroughly scrutinized and taken through all necessary protocols to estublish its benefits for the people of Ghuna before being settled on.