The newly appointed Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has begun a four-day working tour of the Ashanti and Bono Regions.
The tour, aims to deepen Dr Bampoe’s understanding of NHIS operations and reinforce staff and stakeholder relations at the grassroots level.
It also seeks to address long-standing challenges surrounding delayed payments to healthcare providers.
Dr Bampoe, highlighted recent efforts to clear arrears, stating, “We’ve released GHC 965 million to providers this year alone. This includes GHC 129 million and GHC 555 million disbursed following the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) uncapping.”
He credited the timely payments to the repeal of the Capping and Earmarking Act, which now allows the NHIA access to its full funding.
“President Mahama promised to uncap Act 947, and it has been done. Parliament repealed it, and the President has signed it,” he said.
He further noted that under Section 52 of Act 852, NHIA funds, must be disbursed within 30 days—a provision previously ignored.
“We now have firm assurance from the Ministry of Finance that releases will comply with the law,” he assured.
The tour commenced on Monday, May 5, 2025, in Kumasi with a media engagement, followed by interactions with NHIA staff across the region. The visit marks the beginning of a nationwide tour aimed at strengthening institutional partnerships and ensuring the effective implementation of health reforms.
Dr Bampoe’s first stop was the NHIA’s Ashanti Regional Office and the Kumasi Claims Processing Centre (CPC), after which he addressed a durbar of selected staff from across the region.
Addressing staff, he encouraged open dialogue and invited them to share both personal and institutional concerns. He also sought their input on tackling persistent challenges such as illegal charges by healthcare providers, commonly referred to as ‘co-payments’.
“I am here not as an armchair CEO, but as someone who believes in working closely with the teams on the ground. We can only improve the Scheme if we do this together,” he stated.
Dr Bampoe, also used the opportunity to outline the vision of the new NHIA leadership, which he said aligns with President John Mahama’s agenda to accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through initiatives such as Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare.
“Our vision includes a renewed focus on staff welfare—addressing issues such as promotions, access to healthcare, training, and financial support. We will provide the tools you need, but we ask for a renewed commitment in return,” he told staff.
He applauded the hard work of district teams that had met their annual targets and rewarded their efforts. In response, staff pledged their loyalty and commitment to improved performance.
The visit also, included an inspection of the ongoing CPC office construction project at Ridge, Kumasi.
Outlining the NHIA’s new strategic direction, Dr Bampoe, identified three core pillars guiding the executive management team.
“First, we are focused on strengthening internal controls and operational efficiency to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHIS,” he said.
“By improving financial accountability, streamlining claims processing, and using technology to cut waste and reduce fraud, we can make the system more robust.”
The second pillar, he explained, centres on restoring public confidence in the Scheme by addressing illegal out-of-pocket payments through tariff reforms, stronger enforcement, and improved provider relationships.
“Timely reimbursements and stronger healthcare partnerships will ensure members receive their full benefits without undue financial burden,” he added, while inviting staff to suggest practical measures to support this goal.
The third pillar, according to Dr Bampoe, is supporting the government’s UHC agenda.
“As part of the government’s plan, the NHIA will back the Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare programmes to ensure healthcare is accessible and affordable for all,” he said.
Speaking to both staff and the media, Dr Bampoe emphasised the strategic importance of the Ashanti Region in NHIS operations.
“This region plays a critical role in our operations. It is the second most populous region and accounts for 17% of NHIS membership. It also has the highest number of district offices and credentialed health facilities—631 in total,” he said.
“As an indigene of this region, it’s essential for me to come here—not only to connect with the staff, but also to roll out the President’s vision on the ground. Ashanti must anchor our reform agenda,” he stated.
Dr Bampoe, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for entrusting him with what he described as a “huge responsibility” to achieve universal health coverage.
Addressing concerns over potential overlaps between Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare, Dr Bampoe clarified that both are designed to complement the NHIS.
“These policies complement the NHIS. While NHIS covers 95% of diseases, it falls short on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for 43% of deaths in Ghana,” he explained.
He revealed that Mahama Cares, would focus on filling these gaps.
“One major intervention will be the establishment of more dialysis centres across the country to ensure access to care for chronic conditions,” he said.
He further explained that the Free Primary Healthcare policy ensures basic healthcare services are accessible to all Ghanaians—whether NHIS members or not.
“This means that even those not enrolled in the Scheme can access primary healthcare services free of charge,” he stated.
Contrary to assumptions that Mahama Cares would rely solely on NHIA funding, Dr Bampoe clarified that the initiative would be supported through a mix of government allocations, investments, and donations.
“Funding sources will be diversified. At the launch on 29 April, President Mahama pledged six months of his salary, while other officials and even private citizens made donations,” he disclosed.
He said this model reflects a national commitment to investing in health and would be scaled up as the programme is rolled out.
Dr Bampoe and his delegation—which includes Acting Director of Claims, Dr Abigail Cudjoe Derkyi-Kwarteng; Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Oswald Essuah Mensah; Head of Corporate Communications, Faustina Dery; and members of the NHIA communications team—will continue the tour on Tuesday, 6 May in the Bono East Region.
He is expected to visit the NHIA Regional Office, pay a courtesy call on the Bono East Regional Minister at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), and engage staff and management at the regional hospital.
The tour will move to the Bono Region today, Wednesday, May 7, and conclude in Kumasi tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, with a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister and other engagements.