• Ghana introduces free primary healthcare regardless of insurance status

• Government targets financial barriers and shifts toward preventive care

• Nationwide rollout planned by 2027 following phased district implementation.

President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the “Free Primary Health Care (FPHC)” on Wednesday, April 15. The government designed this flagship initiative to strengthen universal health coverage nationwide.

The program aims to eliminate financial constraints that limit access to essential primary healthcare services. It includes basic preventive and curative services delivered at the community level.

The initiative guarantees free access to selected basic services across healthcare facilities, ranging from community health centers to polyclinics. As a result, the program improves equitable access to care while promoting early disease detection and timely treatment.

The FPHC ensures free access to primary healthcare services regardless of citizens’ insurance status.

President John Dramani Mahama emphasized the structural shift embedded in the reform. He said: “free primary health care marks the transition from a curative system to a preventive system, enabling early detection and rapid interventions to save lives before conditions worsen and become costly.”

According to World Health Organization, Ghana has made notable progress in expanding access to essential health services. However, the country still faces challenges in ensuring safe, effective, and patient-centered care.

The WHO identified several structural constraints, including the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, delayed diagnosis, and high out-of-pocket healthcare costs. These factors contributed to the launch of the FPHC initiative.

In parallel, the Ghanaian government announced additional reforms in early 2025 to modernize the healthcare system. These reforms include “Mahama Cares,” a social initiative launched by President Mahama.

The program aims to address healthcare financing gaps through the creation of the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund. The fund provides financial support to ensure quality care for patients with lifestyle-related conditions and non-communicable diseases, including kidney failure requiring dialysis and cancers.

The government will implement the FPHC program in phases, starting with selected districts. Authorities plan to expand the initiative nationwide by 2027.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum