Mandatory health insurance for foreign visitors yet to be approved

The Minister for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has clarified the status of a proposed mandatory health insurance policy for non-resident visitors. According to him, the proposal by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to have foreign nationals arriving in Ghana purchase a mandatory health insurance has not yet been approved by the cabinet.

Recent reports had indicated that starting from July 1, 2024, foreign nationals arriving in Ghana would be required to purchase a mandatory health insurance policy ranging from $45 to $270 before being admitted into the country. These reports stirred considerable discussion and concern among potential visitors and stakeholders.

However, in a press release dated Tuesday, 18 June 2024 and signed by the Health Minister, Dr Bernard Okoe, the Ministry of Health clarified that the “recent announcement regarding mandatory health insurance policy for non-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 finalised and its mode of implementation settled,” the statement by the Health Minister read.

“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,” it added.