Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced that President Mahama will officially launch the government’s flagship Free Primary Healthcare Program on Wednesday, April 15, marking a major step toward achieving universal health coverage in Ghana.
At a press briefing, the Health Minister explained that the government designed the initiative to ensure every citizen, regardless of location, can access quality healthcare.
“The program, estimated to cost GH¢1.2 billion annually, will begin in 150 underserved districts across the country. With 350 kiosks planned nationwide, the project is expected to transform Ghana’s health delivery system. We are deploying not fewer than 350 of these posts, and we will situate them in highly populated areas like markets and lorry parks. Each facility will have access to water, solar power, toilets, a pharmacy shop, a waiting area, consulting rooms, and a detaining area,” he said.
He further added:
“The idea of free primary healthcare is not just about affordability. It is a complete shift from sick care to healthcare, detecting diseases early and, where possible, preventing them before complications arise. This is an attempt to reset the health system, moving it away from being overly reliant on treatment to one focused on prevention and early detection,” he said.
The policy shifts healthcare delivery from a reactive model to a preventive approach. It covers routine screenings for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancers. It also includes antenatal and postnatal services, immunizations, and malaria and respiratory infection treatment, as well as education on family planning, menstrual hygiene, and safe water practices.
