The Minister for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has announced a historic expansion of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to include coverage for mental health conditions.
This significant initiative will now provide state-funded treatment for conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia.
Speaking at a Minister’s Press Briefing organized by the Ministry of Information in Accra, Dr. Okoe-Boye explained that this is the first time Ghana will cover mental health care under the NHIS since the inception of the Fourth Republic.
He noted that the NHIS board is finalizing the necessary codifications, which will soon allow patients to receive treatment for mental health issues at no cost.
Additionally, the Minister highlighted the growing success of the NHIS mobile app, which enables Ghanaians to register for health insurance remotely using their Ghana Card.
Through this digital platform, citizens can complete the registration process and receive a digital NHIS card instantly.
He also mentioned that individuals over 70 can now access healthcare services without paying upfront costs.
In a broader effort to integrate different forms of care, the government has also taken steps to bring traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare.
This reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to addressing the diverse medical needs of its population.
On the employment front, Dr. Okoe-Boye emphasized the government’s efforts to employ over 21,000 health workers since 2017, with more opportunities ahead.
He further announced that Ghanaian nurses are being encouraged to work abroad, with the third batch set to leave for Barbados by October as part of an arrangement between Ghana and countries like Barbados and Seychelles.
The Minister also lauded the use of drone technology to deliver essential medicines to remote areas, ensuring timely medical logistics where vehicle access is challenging.
This initiative forms part of the government’s broader mission to ensure healthcare access for all Ghanaians, regardless of location.
This expansion of the NHIS to cover mental health marks a major milestone in improving healthcare access in Ghana, addressing a long-overlooked sector of public health.
