Table 4 Summary of policy contents and reset category for maternal health fee exemption between 1969 and 2012
Reset category | Year | Policy Content |
|---|---|---|
Policy Expansion | 1969 | “All antenatal services provided at Government hospitals should be for free” |
1971 | “No fees other than the fees prescribed for accommodation and maintenance shall be paid in respect of services rendered in a hospital to - (b) any person other than a non- resident alien in respect of antenatal care at a health post, rural health centre or clinic, or any other hospital specified by the Director of Medical Services by notice published in the Gazette; - (c) any maternity patient who has had four or more child births; - (d) any maternity patient referred to a hospital from a clinic or health centre; - (e) any maternity patient referred to a hospital by a registered midwife or registered medical practitioner” | |
Policy Contraction | 1983 | “No fees other than hospital accommodations and catering services shall be paid in any Government hospital or clinic in respect of – (i) antenatal and postnatal services” |
1985 | “No fees other than hospital accommodations and catering services shall be paid in any Government hospital or clinic in respect of – (i) antenatal and post-natal services” | |
1997 | “Exemption for antenatal services (first four antenatal care visits) in government health facilities” | |
Policy Expansion | 2003 | “User fee exemption for maternal services in Northern, Upper-West, Upper-East and Central Regions in government, private and mission health facilities” |
2005 | “User fee exemption for maternal services in all ten regions in government, private and mission health facilities” | |
2008 & 2012 | “National Health Insurance Scheme premium exemption for all pregnant women in Ghana” Benefit under the free maternal care policy • No premium for fresh registration or renewal of membership • No processing fee for registration or renewal • Antenatal period: free antenatal, general services and medicines • Delivery: free services and medicines, including caesarean • Postnatal period: free services and medicines • Full year cover no matter when pregnant woman registers • Free care for the baby on mother’s National Health Insurance Scheme ticket for 90 days • Alternatively, the baby can be treated free on the father or other designated guardian • After 90 days the child can be registered as an individual under 18 (no premium but processing fee required) |