The Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, has declared zero tolerance for so-called “co-payments”—a misleading term often used to disguise illegal charges imposed on members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by service providers.
Dr. Bampoe emphasised that the Authority’s renewed crackdown goes beyond the unlawful extraction of fees from members to also cover the submission, or facilitation, of fraudulent claims by credentialed facilities. He reiterated the declaration while addressing the media and stakeholders during his on-going five-day working tour across four more regions- Ahafo, Western, Western North and Central. These measures, he stressed, are backed by Sections 31(1) and 35(2) of the National Health Insurance Act (Act 852) of 2012.
Dr. Bampoe was accompanied by a high-powered delegation that included Deputy Chief Executive for Administration and Human Resources, Raphael Segkpeb; Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Oswald Essuah-Mensah; Acting Director of Claims, Dr. Abigail Cudjoe Derkyi-Kwarteng; Acting Director of Membership and Regional Operations, Sebastian Alagpulinsa; and Head of Corporate Communications, Faustina Dery.
More Audits to be Done
He cautioned that any institution or individual found culpable will face strict sanctions, including mandatory refunds and possible prosecution. As part of this intensified accountability drive, Dr. Bampoe revealed that the Clinical and Compliance Audit he commissioned into the operations of the Akim Oda Government Hospital earlier this year that exposed serious malpractices, including the imposition of illegal charges on NHIS members between February and May 2025 will be replicated nationwide in credentialed facilities.
“The hospital was subsequently sanctioned and ordered to refund GH¢312,413.51 to the NHIA. The crackdown comes as part of renewed efforts to protect National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) members from exploitation, while safeguarding the NHIS funds to restore full confidence in the Scheme. He reiterated that credentialed facilities and individuals who attempt to undermine the Scheme will face sanctions, refunds, and prosecution where necessary. He said illegal charges and fraudulent claims no longer have a place in Ghana’s march towards Universal Health Coverage.
Crackdown
Dr. Bampoe made it clear that the crackdown is not merely about punishment but about building trust and fulfilling the promise of the NHIS as a shield against financial hardship in healthcare. “We want every Ghanaian to walk into a health facility with their NHIS card and receive care without fear of exploitation.
That is the vison of President John Dramini Mahama and that is the legacy NHIA executive management is building,” he said. He appealed for collective action, urging traditional leaders, healthcare providers, NHIA staff, and citizens to play their part He warned that the Authority would not hesitate to bring down recalcitrant health facilities and individuals who continue to flout NHIA regulations. “The axe is already at the root of the tree,” he cautioned.
We are no longer tolerating illegal charges or fraudulent claims. If you’re a credentialed facility and you’re submitting false claims or charging NHIS members for services already covered, your days are numbered.” He said. He dismissed the term “co-payment” as a misleading attempt to normalize unlawful charges. “Some people call it co-payment, but that dignifies it with a proper name.
These are illegal charges—unauthorized and unacceptable. NHIS members should not be paying out-of-pocket for services and medications already covered by the Scheme,” he stated. The NHIA’s intensified actions are supported by the Co-Payment Taskforce, established earlier this year to investigate the widespread problem and recommend lasting solutions. He said this enforcement measures are complemented by education and engagement with stakeholders to drive lasting change.
Priorities
Reiterating the Authority’s priorities, Dr. Bampoe outlined three key pillars guiding his leadership: the operationalisation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares and the Free Primary Healthcare for all Policies; empowering NHIA staff to deliver with excellence; and decisively eliminating illegal charges disguised as “co-payments.”
