Health ministry to implement new NHIS policy for foreigners on July 1

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Beginning July 1, foreign visitors who come into the country for short term visits will enjoy a new national health insurance policy specifically designed by the Ministry of Health.

The initial phase will focus on non-resident visitors staying for up to six months within a year.

The policy, dubbed the “National Non-resident Visitors Health Insurance,” has been formulated through a partnership with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and other stakeholders, ensuring a collaborative oversight.

A recent media briefing saw the participation of key players such as the Ministry of Health (MOH), NHIA, and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), highlighting the policy’s collaborative nature.

In accordance with the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852), the policy aims to extend quality healthcare to both residents and non-residents, promoting fair access to medical services under the national health insurance framework.

Structured into six categories based on the length of stay, the policy caters to visa-holding foreigners and includes arrangements for those obtaining visas upon arrival, integrating them into the health system.

Currently, members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are not covered, but plans are underway to include them in the future.

The policy was officially introduced in February 2024 by the Minister of Health, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who emphasised its role as a primary conduit for providing comprehensive healthcare to non-resident visitors entering 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,” he said.

“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.”

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