President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will officially launch the Free Primary Health Care Programme on April 15, 2026, in what government says is a major step toward making basic healthcare more accessible to all citizens.
The President made the announcement during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at the Jubilee House, where he outlined key priorities in the social sector and linked healthcare access to the broader national agenda on inclusion and cost-of-living relief.
Mahama said the programme is intended to remove one of the biggest barriers to care — affordability — especially for vulnerable and uninsured populations.
Beyond NHIS coverage
At the heart of the initiative is a promise to provide universal access to essential promotive, preventive and basic curative services across the country. Unlike many existing arrangements, the programme will not be limited to persons enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme.
That means uninsured Ghanaians will also be able to access primary healthcare services without direct financial burden, a move expected to significantly widen the safety net at the community level.
President Mahama said expanding access to healthcare remains central to creating “an inclusive society where no one is left behind,” positioning the programme as both a public health and social equity intervention.
Implementation is expected to cut across Community-based Health Planning and Services compounds, health centres, polyclinics and other frontline facilities, bringing care closer to households and reducing the need for long-distance travel for basic treatment.
Prevention to take centre stage
A major feature of the policy is its strong emphasis on prevention and early detection. Under the programme, community health workers are expected to carry out door-to-door screenings for common non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
The strategy is designed to help identify health risks early, allowing patients to receive treatment before complications develop. Government believes this shift from reactive treatment to preventive care could improve health outcomes while lowering future pressure on households and the national health system.
The programme will also integrate affordable generic medicines through community pharmacies, ensuring that patients diagnosed at the local level can begin treatment promptly.
Backed by funding and broader reforms
The Free Primary Health Care Programme forms part of a wider social protection strategy that also includes the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which supports people living with chronic illnesses such as cancer and kidney disease.
To support implementation, government has allocated GH¢1.5 billion in the 2026 health sector budget. The funding will go into service expansion, procurement of equipment and upgrades to health facilities.
As part of the longer-term plan, new regional hospitals are also expected to be built in underserved areas including Savannah, Oti and Western North, in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure and narrowing regional disparities in access.
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