Ministry of Health set to roll out health insurance policy for foreigners on July 1

Starting July 1, 2024, the Ministry of Health will implement a national health insurance policy for foreigners visiting Ghana for short periods. Initially, the policy will focus on non-resident foreigners staying in the country for less than six months within a 12-month period.

Developed in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and other partners, this policy is called the “National Non-resident Visitors Health Insurance.”

In a media engagement prior to its implementation, key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), NHIA, and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), discussed the policy.

This initiative aligns with the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852), which mandates the provision of quality and accessible healthcare for both residents and non-residents in Ghana to ensure equitable access to health services.

The policy includes six tiers based on the duration of stay in the country and targets foreigners with visas. Provisions are also in place for those requiring visas on arrival to ensure they are covered by the scheme.

However, ECOWAS members are currently excluded as measures are being developed to incorporate them into the scheme in the future.

The Ministry of Health, led by Dr. Agyeman Manu, launched the policy in February 2024. Dr. Manu indicated, “The scheme will be the main vehicle for the delivery of robust healthcare services to non-residents who will be travelling to Ghana.”

“Taking into consideration the peculiar characteristics and nature of the NNRVHIS, a special purpose arrangement may be required to minimize the potential for risks,” he said.

“To facilitate this, a National Non-Resident Visitors Health Insurance Technology Platform (NNRVHITP) will be established. This platform will enable non-resident visitors to remotely log into a digital platform and apply from their respective countries without challenges, thereby improving user experience.”

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