Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, has stated that the government will completely fund basic healthcare services under a new flagship program aimed at increasing access and improving preventative healthcare delivery across the country.
The Free Primary Health Care project is a policy that aims to eliminate financial obstacles to basic healthcare services while emphasising community-based health promotion and illness prevention.
It is anticipated that the program will greatly increase access to vital health services across the country.
The Health Minister clarified that the policy will ensure universal access to basic healthcare services at the primary level without requiring direct payment at the point of care during a speech at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, April 13, 2026.
“The Free Primary Health Care is a government policy that will ensure that every Ghanaian can have access to a defined package of essential healthcare services free of charge at the primary health care level.”
“This applies to CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics across the country. Beyond this point, we will have a more structured approach to disease prevention and health promotion by moving into our communities and households with these services.”
“I want to emphasise that there will be no cost to preventive, promotive, as well as curative services within the primary healthcare services package,” he stated.
He added that only legitimate credentials proving Ghanaian citizenship will be needed to gain access to the program.
“The only thing you need is to show a valid ID card as a Ghanaian,” he stated.
Additionally, Mr. Akandoh mentioned that the policy will be connected to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in order to enrol people who are not currently covered.
He continued, “We will also use this opportunity to enrol people who are not insured onto the National Health Insurance Scheme,”
In the meantime, April 15, 2026 is the date of the policy’s official introduction.
Source: newsthemegh.com