{
  "id": 18880907,
  "title": "Mahama warns hospitals against charging NHIS patients extra, orders NHIA sanctions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/mahama-warns-hospitals-against-charging-nhis-patients-extra-orders",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-08T06:41:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/health/mahama-warns-hospitals-extra-nhis-charges-nhia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to closely monitor hospitals and penalize any that charge patients extra fees beyond what the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) permits. This directive was delivered during Mahama's address to the Ghana Medical Association's (GMA) 68th Annual General Conference, held at Central University in Miotso near Prampram on November 6. The warning was part of a broader health policy discussion at the conference, where Mahama also announced plans to expand emergency units at four major hospitals and purchase 100 new ambulances to address the \"no-bed syndrome.\" He reported complaints that some providers were still accepting cash from insured patients before treating them for conditions covered by the NHIS. Mahama stated that NHIA teams would be dispatched to inspect facilities to ensure compliance. He emphasized that recent financial reforms eliminated the need for hospitals to pass unauthorized costs onto patients. Since August 2026, the NHIA has raised service tariffs for accredited healthcare providers by 50 percent, and the National Health Insurance Fund is now uncapped, with claims paid monthly. The 2026 Budget allocated approximately GH¢22.8 billion to the health ministry and its agencies, plus an additional GH¢11.3 billion for the NHIA. Mahama urged healthcare providers to assist in curbing fraud and waste, with GH¢2.26 billion of the insurance fund transfer designated for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as MahamaCares, which supports specialized care for serious conditions not covered by standard NHIS. During the GMA conference, the Medical Superintendents Group also called for the expansion of emergency and critical care facilities, stronger hospital referral systems, and increased resources for the National Ambulance Service to combat the \"no-bed syndrome.\" The group stressed that this issue cannot be resolved by individual hospitals or doctors alone, emphasizing the need for strong political commitment and sustainable financing.",
  "summary": "President Mahama has directed the NHIA to penalise health facilities charging NHIS cardholders illegal fees after raising provider tariffs by 50 per cent.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Health facilities charging NHIS patients unlawfully will be dealt with – Mahama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/health-facilities-charging-nhis-patients-unlawfully-will-be-dealt",
        "published": "2026-11-06T15:23:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Health facilities charging NHIS patients unlawfully will be dealt with – Mahama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/health-facilities-charging-nhis-patients-unlawfully-will-be-dealt-18527298",
        "published": "2026-11-06T16:13:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}