Queen Máxima pushes for NHIS coverage of digital healthcare like NkwaPlus to reduce patients’ medical costs

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has urged Ghana to bolster efforts to curb the cost of healthcare for patients, especially those with chronic conditions who are still required to pay for certain medical services even with health insurance coverage. During a policy discussion at Manna Mission Hospital in Accra, the Queen expressed her belief that Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) should adapt to include digital healthcare services that permit patients to receive medical attention remotely, thereby minimizing the need for frequent hospital visits.

Queen Máxima's curiosity about potential improvements to Ghana's health insurance system stemmed from her interactions with patients participating in a Value-Based Care initiative, a joint effort between PharmAccess Ghana, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG). This initiative integrates hospital consultations, which are covered by the NHIS, with digital monitoring via PharmAccess' NkwaPlus platform.

The Dutch monarch, serving as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, emphasized the importance of health insurance in shielding households from unexpected medical expenses. "Having health insurance is a very important part because it’s one of the very big items of unforeseen costs for people," she commented.

While acknowledging Ghana's advancements in increasing health insurance coverage, the Queen expressed concern over patients still facing significant out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare. "In not many countries in Africa do you have quite good insurance coverage on the health side. And if you do, I know that still a lot of people pay out of pocket for a lot of things, so it is still a big-ticket item for patients," she noted.

The Queen expressed interest in learning from Ghana's experience on how the health insurance system has evolved and how the nation can further reduce out-of-pocket expenses, as these financial burdens continue to adversely impact individuals' financial well-being.