H.E Mahama Launches Free Primary Healthcare Programme to Shift Focus from Treatment to Prevention
The President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has officially launched the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, marking a significant policy shift from curative “sick care” to preventive and community-based healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the launch, President Mahama underscored the rising burden of lifestyle-related diseases and the risks associated with late diagnosis. He emphasized that the future of healthcare in Ghana lies in early detection, routine screening, and sustained community engagement. According to him, the initiative is designed to ensure that access to basic healthcare services becomes a fundamental right rather than a privilege, with services provided at no cost at the primary level.
Under the programme, Ghanaians will receive free essential healthcare services at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres, and polyclinics nationwide. The initiative will enable citizens to undergo routine screenings for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and other common illnesses, facilitating early detection and timely management.
President Mahama further explained that the programme will complement the National Health Insurance Scheme, ensuring seamless referrals and coverage for patients who require advanced care at higher-level health facilities.
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The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the rollout as a transformative step in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system. He noted that preventive care will now be integrated into routine health services, with trained health workers and volunteers deployed to communities, markets, schools, and workplaces to conduct screenings and intensify public health education.
The programme will initially be implemented in 150 underserved districts, with plans for nationwide expansion by 2028.
“With mobile clinics and outreach teams extending services to hard-to-reach communities, the policy is expected to reduce preventable diseases, lower healthcare costs, and promote a healthier population that prioritizes wellness over illness,” the Minister stated.