The minister for health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, says the government will fully cover the cost of primary healthcare services under a new policy aimed at improving access and strengthening preventive healthcare delivery nationwide.

The initiative, known as the Free Primary Health Care programme, is designed to remove financial barriers to basic healthcare while shifting greater focus towards disease prevention and community-based health interventions.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, 13 April 2026, the minister said the policy will ensure universal access to essential services at the primary level without any direct payment at the point of care.

He stated, “The Free Primary Health Care is a government policy that will ensure that every Ghanaian can have access to a defined package of essential healthcare services free of charge at the primary health care level.”

“This applies to CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics across the country. Beyond this point, we will have a more structured approach to disease prevention and health promotion by moving into our communities and households with these services.

“I want to emphasise that there will be no cost to preventive or promotive as well as curative services within the primary healthcare services package.”

According to him, access to the programme will require only a valid national identification card as proof of Ghanaian citizenship.

“The only thing you need is to show a valid ID card as a Ghanaian,” he said.

The minister further explained that the policy will be integrated with the National Health Insurance Authority to help enrol persons who are currently not covered under the scheme.

“We will also use this opportunity to enrol people who are not insured onto the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he added. The policy is expected to be officially launched on 15 April 2026.