Jamaican delegation studies Ghana’s health insurance model

A delegation from Jamaica‘s Ministry of Health and Wellness, led by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, has paid a working visit to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Accra to study Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The visit formed part of a broader bilateral partnership aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery through knowledge exchange and collaboration.

According to the NHIA, the visit also coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on healthcare cooperation and labour exchange to facilitate the temporary deployment of Ghanaian nurses and doctors to Jamaica.

Speaking during the engagement, Dr Tufton said the partnership would focus on the recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian healthcare professionals to Jamaica, as well as cooperation in training and healthcare systems strengthening.

He noted that Jamaica currently operates a National Health Fund, which provides free or subsidised medication for about 28 categories of illnesses through public health institutions and accredited private pharmacies.

However, he explained that Jamaica is seeking to transition towards a full national health insurance system and is studying sustainable healthcare financing models, including Ghana’s NHIS.

“With that context, we are interested in understanding how Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme works and what lessons we can learn from it,” he said.

Deputy Chief Executive for Administration and Human Resources at the NHIA, Raphael Segkpeb, said Ghana introduced the NHIS in 2003 to replace the cash-and-carry system under which citizens paid directly for healthcare services.

He noted that the scheme has evolved from focusing mainly on curative care to incorporating preventive and promotive healthcare services.

Mr Segkpeb highlighted the recently launched Free Primary Healthcare initiative, which aims to strengthen preventive healthcare and encourage early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

He also pointed to the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Care, to support the management of non-communicable diseases and reduce pressure on the National Health Insurance Fund.

The NHIA said both countries expressed optimism about future collaboration and agreed to pursue continued engagement through virtual presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions.

During the visit, NHIA officials also presented an overview of the NHIS, including its structure, financing mechanisms, digital innovations and operational strategies.