Government is set to respond to the health needs of the people by rolling out a nationwide Free Primary Healthcare(FPHC) Programme in the first week of April 2026 as part of universal health coverage.
The FPHC is aimed at expanding access to essential services and easing the financial burden on citizens.
This was disclosed by Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh last Friday February 6, 2026 during an engagement with the Media, represented by PRINPAG, GJA and Online Publishers Association of Ghana (OPAG) as part of Stakeholder consultation.
He explained that the initiative is designed to remove cost barriers and ensure equitable healthcare access across the country.
“Everyone is on board. We have engaged stakeholders like the Ghana Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Society, the private sector, the Christian Health Association and our donor partners, and we will continue engaging traditional leaders and communities to ensure the success of this programme,” he said.
According to the minister, the policy forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system and bring services closer to communities, particularly underserved areas.
Authorities plan to expand Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, improve health infrastructure, and enhance service delivery nationwide.
Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh in a group picture with leadership of Media blocs
He stressed the importance of public engagement ahead of the rollout on April 6, 2026.
“We will create platforms for contributions, questions and clarifications before implementation so that everyone understands the policy and supports it,” he noted.
The Juaboso Member of Parliament also urged the public to roll on to the National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS) since FPHC has a limit as One needs the NHIS Card to access a secondary health care.
“The free Primary health care is free, but when you are referred, it is not free”, Hon. Akandoh emphasized.
He said the Ministry is Intensifying its sensitization strategy to get the citizenry to get registered with NHIS to be able to get access to secondary health care.
“So it is not as though because it is a free primary health care National Health Insurance is useless no. That is even the more eeason why we need to intensify our campaign to a lot more people on to the National Health Insurance Scheme”, the Minister stressed.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
