The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that government will fully absorb the cost of primary healthcare services under a new flagship initiative aimed at improving access and strengthening preventive care across the country.
The policy, dubbed the Free Primary Health Care initiative, seeks to eliminate financial barriers to basic healthcare while shifting focus toward 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, Mr. Akandoh explained that the policy will guarantee universal access to a defined package of essential healthcare services at the primary level without any out-of-pocket payments.
“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,” he said.
“This applies to CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics across the country. Beyond this point, we will adopt a more structured approach to disease prevention and health promotion by extending services into our communities and households.”
“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 added.
The Minister noted that access to the programme will require proof of Ghanaian citizenship through a valid national identification card.
“The only requirement is a valid Ghanaian ID card,” he stated.
Mr. Akandoh also disclosed that the initiative will be integrated with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), particularly to enrol individuals who are not currently covered.
“We will also use this opportunity to enrol people who are not insured onto the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he added.
The policy is scheduled to be officially launched on April 15, 2026.
