The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that government will fully absorb the cost of primary healthcare services under a new flagship policy aimed at expanding access and strengthening preventive healthcare delivery across the country.
The policy, known as the Free Primary Health Care initiative, is designed to remove financial barriers to basic healthcare services while placing greater emphasis on disease prevention and community-based health promotion.
The programme is expected to significantly expand access to essential health services nationwide.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, April 13, 2026, the Health Minister explained that the policy will guarantee universal access to essential healthcare services at the primary level without any direct payment at the point of care.
He stated: “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 further noted that access to the programme will require only valid identification as proof of Ghanaian citizenship.
“The only thing you need is to show a valid ID card as a Ghanaian,” he said.
Mr. Akandoh also indicated that the policy will be linked to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), particularly to enrol individuals who are currently not covered.
“We will also use this opportunity to enrol people who are not insured onto the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he added.
Meanwhile, the policy is scheduled to be officially launched on April 15, 2026.
