The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disclosed that active membership of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Upper East Region has increased to 67 percent as of June 2026.
The figure forms part of a broader national increase in active NHIS membership, which has risen from 54 percent at the end of 2024 to 66 percent by the end of 2025 and further to 76 percent as of June 2026.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA in charge of Finance and Investment, Anatu Seidu Bogobiri Esq, disclosed this at the launch of the Free Primary Health Care Programme at Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District on Thursday, August 13, during President John Mahama’s Resetting Ghana Tour to the region.
Bogobiri, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, said an estimated 17 million Ghanaians had accessed healthcare through e last year.
She attributed the growth in membership partly to measures implemented by the government to strengthen the NHIS and improve access to healthcare.
She said the government had also cleared all outstanding NHIS claims arrears amounting to about GH¢963 million owed to healthcare providers by April 2025.
According to her, claims had subsequently been paid every month since 2025, with total claims payments exceeding GH¢2 billion in 2025.
Of that amount, more than GH¢153 million was paid to healthcare facilities in the Upper East Region.
Bogobiri further disclosed that between January and July 2026, the NHIA had paid an additional GH¢1.4 billion in claims nationwide, with healthcare providers in the Upper East receiving more than GH¢100 million.
She said the consistent payment of claims had restored confidence among healthcare providers and contributed to improved service delivery at the point of care.
On the implementation of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, Bogobiri said government had released about GH¢443 million to retool selected health facilities to prepare them for the programme.
She added that approximately GH¢36 million had been released to 107 district health facilities nationwide for the implementation of the programme.
In the Upper East Region, she said, about GH¢4.2 million had been disbursed directly to 14 district health facilities.
The allocations include GH¢514,418 to Bawku West, GH¢426,192 to Bawku Municipal, GH¢415,394 to Bongo, GH¢356,398 to Kassena Nankana Municipal and GH¢323,715 to Kassena Nankana West, among others.
Bogobiri said the direct payment model was intended to reduce delays and ensure that funds were readily available at the point of care.
She also announced the introduction of a cashless revenue collection system across NHIA district offices nationwide, under which no cash would be accepted for registration and renewal of NHIS membership.
She said the initiative would strengthen accountability, reduce risks associated with cash handling and improve reconciliation and reporting.
The NHIA is also piloting the One-Time Authentication Code (OTAC) system in the Upper East Region as part of efforts to validate claims and ensure value for money.
Under the system, NHIS members visiting health facilities are required to generate an authentication code on a mobile phone to confirm that they have actually accessed services at the facility.
Bogobiri assured the public that the NHIA remained committed to strengthening the NHIS through financial discipline, accountability and measures aimed at improving access to quality and affordable healthcare.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | David Adapuna
