Mahama Care vs NHIS : Is Ghana rethinking of health financing or just reinventing the wheel?

Ghana stands once again at a critical crossroads in its healthcare journey. With the recent unveiling of MahamaCare, the political debate is intensifying: Are we witnessing a bold new vision for health financing, or merely an attempt to repackage the old under a new label?

Let’s step back and take a deeper look.

The NHIS Dream : A Promise in Decline?

When the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was launched in 2003, it was hailed globally as a revolutionary step for a developing country. It aimed to replace the notorious “cash and carry” system, ensuring that every Ghanaian—rich or poor—had access to essential healthcare.

And for a while, it worked.

But today, many believe NHIS is on life support. Delayed reimbursements, expired medicines, poor service delivery, and loss of public trust have plagued the scheme. Instead of being the backbone of equitable health access, NHIS has become a shadow of its promise.

 Enter MahamaCare :Vision or Vintage?

Former President John Dramani Mahama has proposed a new system—MahamaCare—to restructure Ghana’s healthcare financing, strengthen primary health delivery, and reduce the financial burden on citizens.

From what has been revealed so far, MahamaCare seeks to:

Offer free primary healthcare to all Ghanaians.

Expand community-level health services.

Emphasize preventive healthcare over curative care.

Reform financing and reduce out-of-pocket payments.

At face value, it’s visionary. But critics argue: Isn’t this what NHIS was supposed to do in the first place?

 So, What’s Really Changing?

The heart of the debate is not just about what is being proposed, but how it will be implemented.

If MahamaCare is just a name change without structural reform, then we are indeed reinventing the wheel. But if it brings:

Better technology and data systems,

Transparent funding mechanisms,

Sustainable financing models,

A workforce overhaul,

then maybe, just maybe, this could be a necessary evolution of NHIS, not a reinvention, but a resurrection.

The Bigger Question: Can Ghana Sustain It?

Healthcare reform isn’t just about intentions. It’s about money, political will, and systems. With Ghana’s economic challenges, ballooning debt, and limited fiscal space, the question must be asked: Can we truly afford MahamaCare—or is this another political promise without a price tag?

What We Need As a Nation

1. A national health financing dialogue that cuts across party lines.

2. An audit and overhaul of the NHIS—not its burial.

3. Policy continuity, not political gimmicks.

4. A citizen-focused health system, not politician-focused branding.

Final Thoughts

Whether MahamaCare turns out to be a revolution or a remix, the health of Ghanaians should not be a political football. Ghana doesn’t need more slogans—we need systems that work.

Let’s hold our leaders accountable not just for what they promise, but how they plan to deliver it.

Is MahamaCare the future? Or are we chasing the shadow of a wheel we’ve already invented?

Let the people decide, but let the truth lead. 

By Emmanuel Abanti