NHIS hits 18.4m members as Ghana targets universal health coverage

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) says it has enrolled more than 18.4 million members nationwide as part of its drive toward universal health coverage.

The figures were shared when a delegation from the Ministry of Health and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, paid a courtesy call on the National Health Insurance Authority in Accra.

Presenting the latest data, Mr. Collins Akuamoah, Deputy Director of the Research Unit under the Research, Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, reported that membership had reached 18.47 million in 2024. He added that the Authority intends to increase active membership to 20 million by the end of 2025.

“Currently, 56.3% of Ghanaians are active members of the Scheme, which covers about 95% of diseases nationwide,” he said.

He outlined ongoing digital reforms, stressing that the USSD shortcode *929# remains one of the strongest tools for convenient card renewal.

The MyNHIS App, he explained, allows new members to register with their Ghana Card without visiting an NHIS office. According to him, the Authority has also achieved 99.9% digitisation of claims submission and vetting, significantly boosting efficiency.

Speaking on the core mandate of the Authority, Mr. Dickson Nuku Dansu, Deputy Director for Training and Development under the Human Resource Directorate, reaffirmed the NHIS’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for everyone living in Ghana.

Exchange Partner for the Health Sector under the Ghana–North Rhine-Westphalia partnership, Ms. Cacilia Rentergent, praised the NHIA’s Telehealth Innovation. She described it as clear evidence of Ghana’s determination to modernise healthcare delivery.

The Head of External Resource Mobilisation – Multilateral at the Ministry of Health, Ms. Rahilu Haruna, commended the NHIA for hosting the delegation and expressed satisfaction with the discussions held.

Delivering closing remarks on behalf of the Deputy Chief Executive for Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Raymond Avinu, Director of Administration, highlighted the significance of the partnership with the German state.

“The relationship between us is just beginning. We are embarking on a journey of learning from each other, and we thank you for coming,” he said.

The engagement reinforced Ghana’s growing international health collaborations and the NHIA’s commitment to expanding coverage through technology and strategic partnerships.