Accra, Feb. 27, – Government has significantly increased its financial commitment to the health sector, with domestic sources expected to account for 72 per cent of total health expenditure in 2026.
This marks a notable rise from 56.8 per cent recorded in 2023, reflecting a deliberate policy shift towards strengthening local financing and reducing reliance on external support.
Presenting the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, President John Dramani Mahama described the development as a clear indication of Ghana’s drive towards achieving health sector self-reliance.
He stated that direct allocations to the health sector had reached GH¢23.3 billion, while total funding—when combined with resources from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)—stood at GH¢34.7 billion for 2026.
The President recalled that the health system faced considerable pressure in early 2025, largely due to obsolete equipment and a sharp decline in donor assistance.
He noted that external funding dropped drastically from 19 per cent to 2.2 per cent, creating an annual shortfall exceeding GH¢2.4 billion.
According to him, the withdrawal of donor-backed interventions, including programmes previously supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), exposed critical gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Touching on disease trends, President Mahama said Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) were responsible for more than 40 per cent of deaths nationwide and continued to impose a heavy financial burden on households.
To tackle this, he announced the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as “Mahama Cares,” as a dedicated national financing mechanism for chronic and non-communicable conditions.
He further disclosed that the National Health Insurance Levy had been uncapped to improve funding flows, while longstanding delays in claims payments—previously stretching up to six months—had been resolved.
Government is also finalising plans to increase service provider tariffs by more than 100 per cent to better reflect the real cost of healthcare delivery.
These interventions, he said, had contributed to a rise in active NHIS membership from 57 per cent at the beginning of 2025 to 66 per cent currently.
On human resources, President Mahama indicated that health workforce density had increased significantly, while total public sector health employment had doubled to about 200,000.
He said 13,500 nurses and midwives, along with hundreds of doctors and pharmacists, had been recruited into the public service within the past year.
The President added that further recruitment would be undertaken, alongside targeted incentives to address staffing imbalances in underserved areas, urging health workers to accept postings as part of their national responsibility.
To strengthen specialist care, new postgraduate training programmes in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology and oncology are to be introduced, complementing existing emergency and critical care nursing courses.
Additionally, about 30 nursing training institutions will transition to competency-based degree programmes, supported by scholarships for advanced (PhD-level) training for nurses and allied health professionals.
On infrastructure, President Mahama reaffirmed Government’s commitment to completing ongoing health projects and ensuring they are fully equipped and staffed.
He also highlighted strategic investments in local pharmaceutical and vaccine production, including GH¢50 million in seed funding for the National Vaccine Institute.
He noted that a local manufacturer received approval in 2025 to produce snake venom antiserum, while plans were underway to begin local production of tetanus and diphtheria vaccines in partnership with an Indonesian pharmaceutical company.
Government is also finalising an advanced market commitment policy to prioritise locally produced medicines in public procurement.
The President said the immunisation budget for children and pregnant women increased by 46 per cent in 2025 to over GH¢171 million, enabling full coverage of routine vaccines.
He added that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was introduced in 2025 to help prevent cervical cancer among girls and women.
President Mahama tasked the Ghana AIDS Commission to scale up HIV prevention, testing and treatment, particularly in high-prevalence areas, noting that the national prevalence rate stood at 1.6 per cent, with about 350,000 people living with HIV.
Looking ahead, he announced plans to introduce a free primary healthcare programme to eliminate financial barriers and promote preventive care, especially for non-communicable diseases.
He further indicated that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund would be expanded to support advanced cardiac services, including catheterisation procedures at Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching Hospitals.
This, he said, would reduce the need for overseas medical referrals and position Ghana as a regional hub for specialised healthcare, in line with its medical tourism ambitions.
GHBUSS
27 Feb. 2026
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