President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana’s newly introduced Free Primary Healthcare Programme is part of wider efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
Speaking at the launch at Shai Osudoku District Hospital in the Greater Accra Region, the President explained that the initiative is intended to complement existing health interventions and address critical service delivery gaps.
Mr. Mahama acknowledged that while the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has expanded access, many communities remain underserved.
“We have been talking about the Universal Health Coverage; every country is working to achieve universal health coverage. It is a situation where every citizen has access to quality and affordable care. In Ghana, we have introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme, and it has expanded coverage and affordability in a major way, but since we introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme, we still have a lot of pockets of underserved areas. Especially in the rural areas,” he said.
He added: “And so for countries that want to extend the reach so that they can achieve universal health coverage, they include the primary healthcare aspect of it.”
The President expressed confidence that the policy will improve access to essential services at the primary level and strengthen the overall health system.
“We are encouraging that when we roll out, our traditional and religious leaders will help us to mobilise their communities, at least every Ghanaian must be screened once a year,” he urged.
“So the free primary healthcare complements the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he added.
The Free Primary Healthcare Programme is expected to broaden access, promote early intervention, and advance Ghana’s long-term goal of equitable and inclusive healthcare for all.
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