Ghana's National Health Insurance Authority is set to implement a Visitor Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) for foreigners starting July 1, 2024.
The new scheme will require non-residents visiting Ghana for less than six months in a year, to sign onto a health insurance scheme that will cover them during their period of stay in the country.
The policy affects visitors who arrive through the airports on visas or through visa on arrival, depending on their length of stay in the Ghana.
The visitor insurance scheme was particularly launched in February by then-health minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu who said 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 minimise the potential for risks. In line with this, a National Non-Resident Visitors Health Insurance Technology Platform (NNRVHITP) will be established to enable non-resident visitors to remotely log into a digital platform and apply accordingly in the comfort of their respective countries without challenges, thereby improving user experience."
However, nationals from ECOWAS member countries are currently excluded. The government says it is working on measures to incorporate them into the scheme later in the future.
Meanwhilee, the National Health Insurance Scheme is free for Ghanaians, but it's uncertain whether the government would commercialize a similar one for foreigners or how much they would pay.
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.
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 estublish its benefits for the people of Ghuna before being settled on.