Influential member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has openly disagreed with the decision by the government to demand mandatory registration of the National Health Insurance Scheme from foreigners arriving in the country.
In line with the implementation of the policy, from July 1, 2024, non-resident visitors arriving in Ghana will be required to have a health insurance policy before entry into Ghana.
But reacting to the news in an X post, Gabby Otchere-Darko on Sunday, June 17, 2024, expressed reservation about the policy.
“Oh how? This has to be fake!” he wrote.
Ghana introduced the mandatory health insurance policy to ensure that all visitors receive the necessary healthcare services during their stay.
The policy mandates that all non-resident visitors entering Ghana must enroll in a scheme that provides them with free healthcare access.
The policy applies to visitors who enter through airports with a visa or visa on arrival, and it is dependent on their duration of stay in Ghana.
In February 2024, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the National Health Insurance Authority and other stakeholders, launched the "National Non-resident Visitors Health Insurance" policy.
This initiative targets non-residents visiting Ghana for less than six months within a 12-month period.
Dr. Isaac Morrison, Vice Chairman of the Technical Working Group on the Visitors Health Insurance Scheme and a member of the NHIA Board, highlighted the importance of this policy at a media briefing before its implementation.
"The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of foreign nationals without insurance, necessitating the activation of Section 2b of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 0(Act 852), which calls for a health insurance policy for foreigners.
Countries like Sierra Leone and Egypt in Africa have already implemented similar schemes. The policy ensures that visitors are covered, reflecting lessons learned from the pandemic and fulfilling a legal requirement," he explained.
Oh how? This has to be fake! pic.twitter.com/WruNfx7AJe
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) June 17, 2024
GA/SARA
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