“You do not need to pay to access primary healthcare; government will pay for you,” Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has declared as he commissioned a container-based medical kiosk at Social Welfare in Madina.
The Minister, who also formally handed over the facility to Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said the intervention forms part of government’s broader strategy to shift the country’s healthcare system from “sick care” to a more preventive and comprehensive model.
He explained that the newly introduced container-based health post, equipped with a consulting room, pharmacy, washroom facilities, solar power, borehole, and telemedicine capabilities is designed to bring essential services closer to densely populated and mobile communities such as markets and transport hubs.
According to him, the initiative is being rolled out under the Government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme with 150 districts captured in the first phase out of the country’s 261 districts.
The Minister stressed that the policy will cover services at CHPS compounds, health centers and polyclinics, including treatment for common conditions such as malaria and respiratory infections, as well as preventive services like blood pressure checks, diabetes screening and public health education.
Hon Akandoh, however, cautioned that the programme does not replace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), urging Ghanaians to remain active subscribers to enable access to higher levels of care beyond primary facilities.
The Minister called on local authorities, health workers and community members to take ownership of the programme, stressing that its success depends on collective responsibility and prudent use of public resources.
