14 million Ghanaians do not have health Insurance

Approximately 14 million Ghanaians do not have health insurance, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

According to the Service’s 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey, lack of access to health insurance was the main cause of multidimensional poverty in both the second and first quarters of the year (34.4 per cent and 33.6 per cent, respectively).

It was noted that in the first and second quarters of 2022, multidimensional poverty was at 13.6 million, or 44.1 per cent, and 14.4 million, or 46.7 per cent, respectively.

A person is considered multidimensionally poor, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report, if they are deficient in at least one-third of the weighted indicators.

Lack of health is one of the factors leading to multidimensional poverty in Ghana.

Lack of health insurance, malnutrition, academic lag, and households with members without a college degree are the markers of multidimensional poverty in Ghana that are most prevalent.

According to the report, 44.1 per cent of people experienced multidimensional poverty in the first quarter compared to 46.7 per cent in the second. 

Indicators that are weighted average 47.3 per cent in the first quarter and 46.6 per cent in the second for the poor person.

According to the report, nine regions, including Ahafo, Western North, Bono East, Upper East, Upper West,Oti, Northern, Savannah, and the North East Regions, have more than 50% of the population who are multidimensionally poor, with percentages ranging from 53.0% to 77.6%.

Consequently, the North East Region became the poorest with a record.

As a result, the North East Region, which had a record low poverty rate of 77.6 per cent in both of the quarters under evaluation, emerged as the poorest in Ghana.

Additionally demonstrates that the two indicators of multidimensional poverty with the highest levels of deprivation are improved toilet facilities and health insurance.