The government has made a significant commitment to stabilising and strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), announcing a massive 120% average increase in tariffs paid to service providers, effective starting 2026.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, during the Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 1, 2025.
The move is a direct response to years of persistent complaints from hospitals and clinics that the existing NHIS tariffs were woefully inadequate and economically unsustainable.
The upward review represents one of the most significant financial interventions in the NHIS’s history, signalling the government’s recognition of the financial distress faced by healthcare providers, which often leads to a reluctance to accept NHIS clients or a compromise in service quality.
Mr Akandoh confirmed the necessity of the drastic adjustment, stating that it will bolster provider confidence in the national insurance system.
“Beginning next year [2026], we’re going to increase the tariff in the NHIS to the service providers. Because it is something the service providers have been complaining about, that the tariffs we give them are unrealistic.”
The minister believes that raising the average payment rate by 120% will fundamentally change the landscape of healthcare delivery in Ghana:
“And so the government has made the decision to increase the tariff by 120% on average, and I believe this is going to be a game-changer,” Mr. Akandoh stated.
This strategic financial injection into the NHIS system is designed to achieve several critical objectives:
- Strengthening Healthcare Delivery: Enabling providers to purchase essential medicines, maintain quality equipment, and offer higher standards of care without incurring crippling losses.
- Improving Provider Confidence: Addressing the “unrealistic” fee structures to incentivize healthcare facilities—both public and private—to fully participate in and prioritize the NHIS, reducing the instances of illegal co-payments (‘copayments’ or ‘out-of-pocket payments’) often demanded from subscribers.
- Ensuring Better Service for Subscribers: Ultimately, the adjustment aims to eliminate patient dissatisfaction caused by facilities refusing to treat NHIS patients due to low reimbursement rates.
The increase is expected to reduce the financial burden on health facilities and ensure that the estimated 18 million Ghanaians currently registered with the NHIS receive the mandated standard of comprehensive care.
Mr. Akandoh emphasised that the move is aimed at strengthening the entire system:
“He said the review is aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, improving provider confidence in the scheme, and ensuring better service for NHIS subscribers.”
Further details regarding the specific increase per procedure and disease category covered under the NHIS are expected to be released before the end of the fiscal year.
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