The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has urged Ghanaians, particularly women, to prioritise cervical cancer screening, as it revealed that the authority processed GH₵5.7m in claims for 5,649 patients between 2023 and 2025.
The call was made at a Cervical Cancer Awareness Health Talk and Panel Discussion in Accra, organised by the NHIA’s Corporate Affairs Directorate on January 16, 2026. The event highlighted the National Health Insurance Scheme’s (NHIS) coverage of approved screening methods, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for cervical cancer.
Health experts at the event emphasised that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes, with screening options including Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), Pap Smear, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing available.
“NHIA has deliberately aligned itself with national and global efforts to raise awareness about cervical cancer, stressing the importance of informed conversations in early detection and prevention,” said Oswald Essuah Mensah, Director of Corporate Affairs.
The event also addressed common misconceptions about cervical cancer, including modes of transmission and HPV testing, with experts noting that men can carry HPV and be tested through non-cervical samples.
The NHIA reaffirmed its commitment to health education, disease prevention, and access to quality healthcare, urging women to seek professional medical care and avoid unapproved herbal medications.
