“We have increased investment in health financing and are taking steps to ensure Ghana fully funds vaccines and critical medicines by 2030,” Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has said.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson says government has significantly increased investment in the health sector as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and prepare for future funding challenges.
Speaking during a meeting in Accra with the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, Dr Forson said government had expanded health financing through higher budgetary allocations, reforms to the National Health Insurance Scheme and new investments aimed at tackling non communicable diseases.
He said government had uncapped the National Health Insurance Levy to make more resources available for healthcare delivery and ensured that the National Health Insurance Authority received its full allocations strictly for health related activities.
“Last year, for the first time in a long while, the NHIA received all that was due it,” he said.
According to the Finance Minister, the reforms have improved the financial position of the Authority and strengthened healthcare financing across the country.
Dr Forson also said government was investing in the fight against non communicable diseases through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the establishment of specialised treatment units in hospitals nationwide.
He cited the recent launch of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme as part of broader measures to improve access to healthcare services.
The minister further revealed that Ghana was preparing to fully finance vaccines and critical medicines as support from the Global Fund gradually declines by 2029.
“As support from the Global Fund for vaccines and critical medicines declines, we are taking steps to ensure that beginning January 2030, Ghana fully budgets for and finances these essential health needs,” he said.
Dr Janabi commended Ghana’s efforts and said sustained investment in healthcare remained essential for economic productivity and national development.
He also urged African countries to strengthen local production of medicines and vaccines, reduce dependence on imports and intensify efforts to address non communicable diseases.
