President John Dramani Mahama is set to launch his flagship Free Primary Healthcare Programme today, a major step toward achieving universal health coverage in Ghana.
The initiative, a key part of his social contract with citizens, will first roll out in 150 underserved districts over the next two months. It aims to expand access to essential healthcare services, especially in areas where medical care is limited.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh outlined the scale of the rollout. The government plans to install more than 350 container-based service points in busy public locations such as markets and lorry parks, bringing care closer to everyday life.
According to the minister, the approach marks a shift from passive to active healthcare delivery. Instead of waiting for patients to visit facilities, services will be extended directly into communities—reaching people in their homes, workplaces, and schools.
To support this effort, over 24,000 pieces of medical equipment are being distributed nationwide to strengthen CHPS compounds and health centres, improving their ability to deliver timely and quality care.
The programme places strong emphasis on prevention. It includes routine screenings for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers, alongside maternal care, immunisations, and treatment for common illnesses such as malaria and respiratory infections. It also promotes education on family planning, menstrual hygiene, and safe water practices.
A structured referral system underpins the policy. While minor conditions will be handled at the community level, more serious cases will be referred to higher-level facilities, with follow-up care returning to local providers.
Describing the initiative as a comprehensive healthcare model, the minister stressed its goal of early detection, reduced preventable deaths, and improved national health outcomes.
The programme represents one of the most significant expansions of Ghana’s social protection system in recent decades—reflecting Mahama’s vision of making healthcare accessible to all as a fundamental right.
