The government, through the Ministry of Health, has announced a major step toward stabilising and strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with an average 120% increase in tariffs paid to healthcare service providers, effective in 2026.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, during the Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 1, 2025.

According to him, the review is a direct response to longstanding complaints from hospitals and clinics that NHIS tariffs had become inadequate and economically unsustainable.

The upward adjustment marked one of the most significant financial interventions in the history of the NHIS, signalling the government’s acknowledgment of the severe financial strain faced by service providers — often resulting in reluctance to accept NHIS patients or a decline in service quality.

Mr Akandoh stressed that the drastic increase was necessary and timely, as it would help restore confidence among healthcare providers and strengthen the overall functioning of 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,” he announced.

The minister believes that raising the average payment rate by 120% would 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.