According to Dr Da-Costa Aboagye — former CEO of the NHIA, the government has so far released only GH¢ 4.4 billion to the National Health Insurance Authority, while GH¢ 2.6 billion has been diverted to MahamaCares.
He explained that this pattern of allocation suggests a continued “capping” of the NHIA’s budget, rather than the widely discussed “uncapping.”
Dr Aboagye noted that the 2025 NHIA budget was expected to be higher, but after revisions, the ceiling now stands at GH¢ 8 billion, reduced from an originally proposed GH¢ 10.5 billion, according to budget documents.
He warned that diverting NHIA funds to MahamaCares could weaken the Authority’s core mandate — particularly the financing of primary healthcare delivery under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The 2025 national budget, as presented by the Finance Minister, had programmed approximately GH¢ 9.93 billion for NHIS activities, including claims payments, medicines, vaccines, free primary healthcare, the MahamaCares initiative, and support to close donor funding gaps.
Parliament subsequently approved a funding formula covering claims payments, operational expenses, district office support, allocations to the Ministry of Health, and budgetary backing for MahamaCares.
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By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, the NHIA reported a cash balance — encompassing cash and investments — of over GH¢ 1.06 billion.
However, Dr Aboagye cautioned that if more than a quarter of NHIA’s resources are redirected to MahamaCares, it could constrain funding for regular NHIS operations, potentially affecting coverage, timely claims payments, medicines, and primary healthcare services.
He added that the gap between the headline budget allocation (approximately GH¢ 9.93–10 billion) and the actual releases (only GH¢ 4.4 billion so far) raises serious concerns about implementation, transparency, and the long-term sustainability of both the NHIS and Mahama Care.
