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

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.

At a media briefing last week 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 from July 1, 2024, non-resident visitors arriving in Ghana will be required to have a health insurance policy before entry into Ghana. 

He 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.

But reacting in the press statement, the Minister of Health said Cabinet was yet to discuss or approve it.

Related: Mandatory health insurance policy for Non-Ghanaian resident visitors to start July 1

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 establish its benefits for the people of Ghana before being settled on.