Selected mental illnesses to be covered by national health insurance

The Mental Health Authority has indicated that four mental health illnesses will soon be covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), as part of measures in improving the country’s mental health system.

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the World Health Organization’s conference on assessing Ghana’s Mental Health system, the Administrative Director for the Mental Health Authority, Victus Kpesese, disclosed that his outfit had been given the opportunity by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to select the mental ailments to be covered by the scheme.

“That is currently being worked on, and we hope that in the first quarter of 2023, these top four conditions will be included in the National Health Scheme benefits package.”

“We’ve already recommended schizophrenia and its various types, bipolar and all forms of depression to the National Health Insurance Authority.”

“So people who have these conditions, once they have the National Insurance Card, they will be covered and reimbursement will be done to the hospital,” Mr. Kpesese said.

Only 2 percent of Ghana’s 2.3 million people living with mental health conditions are receiving psychiatric treatment and support from health facilities, according to the World Health Organisation.