The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has pledged to work with the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana School of Law to facilitate the enrolment of students across the institution’s campuses onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The commitment follows a meeting between the NHIA Executive Management and an SRC delegation led by its President, Isaac Nlason, in Accra on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.
The engagement was aimed at exploring areas of cooperation to improve students’ access to affordable healthcare, with particular attention to mental health, general wellbeing and emergency medical services.
The SRC delegation explained that the initiative formed part of efforts to promote a healthier and more supportive academic environment for students across the various campuses of the Ghana School of Law.
It highlighted the demanding nature of legal education, noting that intensive academic work and professional training could place considerable physical and psychological pressure on students.
According to the SRC, ensuring that students maintain active NHIS memberships would enable them to access healthcare services when necessary, particularly in emergencies, while easing the financial burden associated with medical treatment.
Members of the delegation included Kofi Tagbor, Organising Secretary; Nana Kwame Mensa-Abrompa Tumanyi, Vice-President for the Accra Main (Makola) Campus; Amanda Offieba Nyante, Vice-President for the UPSA Campus; Abraham Rockson Kwarteng, Vice-President for the KNUST Kumasi Campus; and Gold Kodson, Chief of Staff.
Welcoming the delegation, the NHIA Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Administration and Human Resource, Raphael Yelfoglo Segkpeb Esq., commended the SRC for taking steps to address the healthcare needs of its members.
Drawing on his personal experience as a former student of the Ghana School of Law, Mr Segkpeb acknowledged the pressures associated with legal education and the importance of ensuring that students have access to essential health services.
He assured the delegation of the Authority’s willingness to support the initiative and encouraged the SRC to submit a formal proposal detailing its request.
“Welcome home. I have been there, and I appreciate the health concerns associated with pursuing law,” he said.
Mr Segkpeb indicated that the proposed collaboration aligned with the NHIA’s broader objective of expanding access to healthcare and ensuring that more people benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He stressed that the health needs of students should not be overlooked, particularly given the demanding academic and professional requirements of legal training.
The Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, also expressed the Authority’s readiness to partner the SRC on interventions aimed at improving healthcare access and promoting student wellbeing.
He encouraged the law students to make preventive healthcare an integral part of their lifestyles rather than waiting until they become ill before seeking medical attention.
Dr Djokoto recommended regular medical examinations, including routine checks of blood pressure and blood sugar levels, explaining that early detection could help identify potential health problems and prevent complications.
He maintained that prioritising preventive healthcare would provide a more sustainable approach to protecting students’ health than depending largely on emergency medical interventions.
On the SRC’s proposal for a dedicated ambulance service for the institution, Dr Djokoto acknowledged the importance of emergency response arrangements but advised the students to give greater attention to preventive measures and early medical intervention.
He observed that maintaining an ambulance exclusively for the school might present practical and sustainability challenges, particularly if regular health screenings and timely access to medical care could help reduce the occurrence of avoidable emergencies.
The Director of Membership and Regional Operations, Sebastian Alagpulinsa, described the proposed partnership as particularly relevant, given that November was being observed by the Authority as NHIS Month.
He explained that the annual observance provides an opportunity for the NHIA to intensify public education, registration and membership renewal activities to encourage more people to enrol in the Scheme and reactivate expired memberships.
Mr Alagpulinsa urged the SRC to take advantage of the campaign by submitting a formal request outlining the number of students to be registered and other relevant requirements.
He said the information would enable the Authority to assess the proposal and determine the appropriate support required to facilitate the exercise.
Meanwhile, the NHIA Director of Administration, Raymond Avinu, appealed to the law students to support the Authority’s intensified campaign against illegal charges imposed on NHIS members by some healthcare providers.
He drew attention to the practice of charging insured patients additional fees for services covered under the Scheme, sometimes incorrectly described as co-payment.
Mr Avinu stressed that addressing the practice required cooperation among the NHIA, healthcare providers, civil society groups and other stakeholders.
He encouraged the SRC to use its influence among students and the wider public to raise awareness about members’ rights and help promote accountability within the healthcare system.
The engagement forms part of efforts by the Ghana School of Law SRC to explore institutional partnerships that will improve access to healthcare and strengthen the welfare of law students across the school’s campuses.
By 1960news.com
