The government paid a total of GH¢2.69 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) service providers last year, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has told Parliament.

He said the government also transferred GH¢1.5 billion to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund within the same year.

Answering a question on the floor of Parliament yesterday, Mr Akandoh assured the House that the current government was committed to restoring payment discipline and improving claims management so that annual claims expenditure was more consistently matched by payments and arrears were prevented from building up.

That, he said, would allow providers to deliver services to the NHIS members without disruption.

He said such 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.

The minister disclosed these when he answered a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Kingsley Agyemang, who asked the minister to provide the claims amount for the year 2020-2023 and the types of claims for the respective years of the NHIS.

Decline in payments

Answering, the minister said the government paid claims of GH¢1.37 billion in 2020, GH¢1.101.28 million 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 said the most critical year was 2022, when claims expenditure that year was GH¢1.60 billion, while claims paid were GH¢963.23 million, creating a shortfall of about GH¢638.97 million.

That shortfall, he said, translated directly into increased arrears and heightened pressure on service providers.

“The subsequent increase in payments in 2023 reflects, in part, the need to clear accumulated arrears from earlier years,” he said. 

Agenda 111

The minister also answered a question from the MP for Anyaa Sowutuom, Emmanuel Tobbin, who asked about the status of the Agenda 111 district hospital in Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency in the Ga Central Municipality.

In response, Mr Akandoh said the Ministry of Finance, by correspondence dated February 13, last year, formally notified the Ministry of Health to incorporate the Agenda 111 projects into its budget proposals for 2025 and beyond.

He said the ministry had accordingly captured the Agenda 111 programme in its 2025 budget.

Further to that, following a handover directive from the Presidency, the ministry had taken charge of the Agenda 111 projects.

Following the handover, the ministry engaged the management team from the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited to undertake a special audit assignment, and the report was submitted.

In due course, he said the ministry would 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.

“The ministry will also explore complementary financing options, including support from private partners who may be interested in assisting in completing this important project.

“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 said.