Parliament on Wednesday approved the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Amendment Bill, a legislative move that authorises the redirection of 20 per cent of revenue accrued under the National Health Insurance Fund to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly referred to as Mahama Cares.
Once the Bill receives presidential assent, it will also eliminate all input tax deductions previously applied to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) levy, thereby allowing the Authority to retain the full value of the levy collected.
The portion of funds earmarked for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is intended to finance programmes focused on the prevention, treatment, and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which remain a growing public health concern nationwide.
Deliberations on the Bill were marked by intense debate, with clear differences of opinion emerging between the Majority and Minority Caucuses regarding the historical origins of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) insisted that the NHIS was introduced in 2003 during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, crediting the initiative with replacing the cash-and-carry system that required patients to pay upfront before accessing medical care.
In contrast, Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus argued that the conceptual foundation of the NHIS was laid earlier, during the presidency of Jerry John Rawlings, asserting that the scheme’s roots predate its formal implementation in 2003.
Despite the disagreements, the Bill was ultimately passed, representing a major policy milestone aimed at strengthening healthcare financing in Ghana. Lawmakers believe the amendment will improve funding sustainability, expand access to critical health services, and reinforce government support for essential medical interventions, particularly in the fight against chronic diseases.
