A member of the New Patriotic Party communication team, Fiifi Boafo, has criticised the government’s plan to launch a new primary healthcare policy, arguing that existing structures under the National Health Insurance Scheme already provide support for vulnerable groups.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on April 14, Mr Boafo questioned the need for a new policy, insisting that the focus should instead be on improving the current system.
“The National Health Insurance Authority, as we speak, already has arrangements for people who cannot afford to pay,” he said. “They are identified and supported, so it is not as though there is no system in place.”
His comments come ahead of the planned launch of the new primary healthcare policy by President John Mahama on Wednesday, 15 April, a policy the government says will expand access to basic health services across the country.
Mr Boafo argued that contributors to SSNIT are already covered under the existing scheme and do not face barriers in accessing healthcare.
“If you are a SSNIT contributor, you are already qualified. You do not need additional contributions to hold an NHIS card,” he stated.
He maintained that even those unable to pay are catered for under current arrangements.
“People who cannot afford it are already taken care of based on their condition and circumstances,” he added.
Questioning the core problem the new policy seeks to address, Mr Boafo suggested that access to healthcare may not necessarily be limited by insurance coverage.
“If I do not have a card, can I walk into a health facility and get basic checks done?” he asked. “Is the issue really about not having a card, or is it about personal choices, awareness, or other factors?”
He continued: “There are many people who do not have NHIS cards, but it is not always because they cannot get one. Sometimes it is due to other reasons.”
Mr Boafo insisted that the current system, if properly strengthened, could address gaps in healthcare delivery without the need for a new policy framework.
“I am saying the NHIS already takes care of individuals, even those without cards, depending on their situation,” he said.
The government has yet to respond directly to the concerns, but officials say the new policy will focus on preventive care and ensure that more Ghanaians can access basic health services without financial barriers.
