The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana School of Law to facilitate the registration of students across the institution’s campuses onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The commitment was given when a delegation of the SRC, led by its President, Mr Isaac Nlason, paid a courtesy call on the NHIA Executive Management in Accra on November 5, 2026.
The meeting focused on opportunities for collaboration to improve students’ access to healthcare, with particular emphasis on mental health, general wellbeing and the need to create a healthier and more supportive learning environment.
The SRC delegation explained that the demanding academic schedules and intensive professional training associated with legal education could expose students to considerable physical and psychological stress.
Mr Nlason said ensuring that all students had active NHIS membership would promote timely access to healthcare, particularly during medical emergencies, while reducing the financial barriers associated with seeking medical attention.
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.
Receiving the delegation, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Administration and Human Resource, Raphael Yelfoglo Segkpeb, welcomed the proposal and described the engagement as an opportunity to advance a shared commitment to healthcare access.
Drawing on his experience as a former law student, Mr Segkpeb acknowledged the pressures associated with legal education and assured the delegation of the Authority’s readiness to support the initiative.
“Welcome home. I have been there, and I appreciate the health concerns associated with pursuing law,” he said.
He encouraged the SRC to formally submit its request to the NHIA, assuring the students that the Authority would work towards facilitating their registration.
He said the proposal aligned with the NHIA’s broader commitment to ensuring access to healthcare for all, adding that the demanding nature of legal education made it important for students to have their health needs adequately addressed.
The Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, also reaffirmed the Authority’s willingness to collaborate with the SRC on initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and delivery.
He urged the students to adopt a proactive approach to healthcare by undertaking regular medical screening rather than waiting until illnesses developed before seeking medical attention.
Dr Djokoto recommended routine checks of basic health indicators, including blood pressure and blood sugar levels, explaining that early detection could help identify potential health conditions and prevent complications.
He described preventive healthcare as a more sustainable approach to protecting students’ health than relying mainly on emergency interventions.
On the SRC’s request for a dedicated ambulance service for the school, he acknowledged the importance of emergency preparedness but advised that greater emphasis should be placed on prevention and early intervention.
He noted that maintaining a dedicated ambulance for the institution might not be the most practical or sustainable option, particularly if regular screening and timely medical attention could help reduce avoidable emergencies.
The Director of Membership and Regional Operations, Sebastian Alagpulinsa, described the proposed collaboration as timely, particularly as November was being observed by the Authority as NHIS Month.
He explained that the month provided an opportunity for the NHIA to intensify its membership registration and renewal drive to encourage more people to enrol in the Scheme and reactivate expired memberships.
Mr Alagpulinsa urged the SRC to take advantage of the period by submitting a formal proposal outlining the students’ registration needs to enable the Authority to assess the request and provide the necessary support.
The Director of Administration, Mr Raymond Avinu, also called on the law students to support the NHIA Executive Management’s intensified campaign against illegal charges imposed at healthcare facilities, which are sometimes wrongly described as co-payment.
He said the fight against such charges required the collective efforts of stakeholders, including student leaders and other influential groups whose voices could help raise public awareness and promote accountability.
