Minority Leader Urges NHIS Coverage for Hepatitis B to End “Silent Destruction”

The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has raised serious concerns about public health efforts surrounding viral hepatitis in Ghana.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Afenyo-Markin highlighted key achievements made in combating hepatitis, including attaining over 90% infant immunization coverage for Hepatitis B, introducing free treatment for Hepatitis C, mandating antenatal testing for Hepatitis D, and developing a national viral Hepatitis D control program.

However, he cautioned that frameworks and pilot interventions alone are not sufficient. He noted that Ghana has yet to introduce the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine or make the Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIg) freely available or subsidized. According to him, these gaps are leaving the most vulnerable behind, allowing the virus to continue its “silent destruction.”

“Too many Ghanaians are still dying from Hepatitis B—not because treatment doesn’t exist, but because it remains financially out of reach,” he stated.

Hon. Afenyo-Markin emphasized the urgent need for national action. While community-based interventions are important, he argued they are not sustainable without national financial support. He explained that the cost of antiviral medication ranges between GH¢300 to GH¢600 per month, with full treatment running into thousands of cedis—an impossible burden for most low-income households. As a result, many patients remain untreated, not by choice, but due to financial hardship.

He reiterated a call he first made in 2023, urging the government to include Hepatitis B treatment under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), just as it has done for other chronic conditions.

He proposed a comprehensive plan to address the crisis, including:

Expanding free community screening and antenatal testing

Funding the rollout of the birth dose vaccine

Subsidizing Hepatitis B HBIg

Launching a national Hepatitis B awareness campaign to combat stigma and misinformation

Equipping every regional hospital with dedicated labour care services

In conclusion, Hon. Afenyo-Markin urged Parliament and government stakeholders to “break down the barriers together” and remove cost as a barrier to treatment through a comprehensive NHIS coverage plan.