The initiative removes cost barriers for basic services and shifts focus toward prevention, with nationwide rollout planned after phased implementation.

Ghana has launched a nationwide Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) programme aimed at expanding access to essential medical services and strengthening universal health coverage.

Officially unveiling the initiative, President John Dramani Mahama described it as a key reform designed to remove financial barriers to healthcare and improve outcomes across the country.

The programme guarantees free access to selected primary healthcare services regardless of patients’ insurance status. It covers both preventive and basic curative care delivered through community health centres, clinics and polyclinics.

Government officials say the policy is intended to promote early diagnosis and timely treatment, reducing the long-term cost burden on both households and the healthcare system.

Speaking at the launch, Mahama said the initiative marks a structural shift in Ghana’s healthcare model. “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,” he said.

CBI News reports that the reform comes as Ghana continues to face systemic challenges in healthcare delivery, including rising cases of non-communicable diseases, delayed diagnosis and high out-of-pocket spending. The World Health Organization has previously identified these issues as key constraints affecting service quality and access.

In parallel, the government is advancing broader health sector reforms, including the “Mahama Cares” initiative, which seeks to address financing gaps through the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund. The fund is designed to support treatment for chronic conditions such as kidney disease and cancer.

Authorities plan to implement the free primary healthcare programme in phases, beginning with selected districts, before scaling it nationwide by 2027.