The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, has sounded a strong warning over the growing practice of illegal charges being imposed on patients at some public and private hospitals across the country.

Speaking during an interview on Channel One TV, Dr. Bampoe expressed concern that despite the existence of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), some health facilities continue to demand unapproved payments from patients.

“We still face the serious problem of illegal fees at our hospitals,” he stated, stressing that such practices undermine public confidence in the health insurance system.

He revealed that the NHIA is rolling out a three-point strategy aimed at improving service delivery and patient satisfaction, explaining that unauthorised charges are one of the major factors contributing to poor hospital experiences.

According to him, some health providers justify the practice by claiming that NHIA reimbursement tariffs are inadequate to cover their operational costs.

However, Dr. Bampoe insisted that ongoing reviews of the tariff structure are intended to remove any justification for demanding out-of-pocket payments.

“Once tariffs become fair and realistic, there will be no excuse for health workers to continue charging patients illegally,” he said.

Dr. Bampoe’s remarks form part of broader reforms being pushed by the NHIA to strengthen transparency, protect patients, and improve efficiency within Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.