The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has reiterated its determination to clamp down on illegal charges within the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as it prepares to implement a major tariff adjustment in 2026.

The Chief Executive of the Authority, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, said illegal payments continue to pose a serious challenge to the effectiveness and credibility of the Scheme and must be tackled alongside the planned 120 per cent tariff increase.

He made this known during a courtesy visit to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Ghana Country Office in Accra on Tuesday.

Dr. Bampoe explained that the proposed tariff increment is intended to address longstanding concerns from healthcare providers over low and unrealistic reimbursement rates under the NHIS, which have affected service delivery in some facilities.

On her part, the WHO Ghana Country Representative, Dr. Fiona Braka, said the engagement was aimed at aligning Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme with the regional vision for Universal Health Coverage.

She also noted that Ghana’s health financing model presents an opportunity to be promoted across the African continent.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director for Claims at the NHIA, Dr. Abigail Derkyi-Kwarteng, described Free Primary Healthcare as a cornerstone of Ghana’s health system.

She said the policy improves access to essential health services and serves as a critical link between patients, the NHIS, and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, particularly for the management of high-cost medical conditions.