President John Dramani Mahama, has officially launched the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, designed to shift the country’s health system from a largely curative approach to a preventive one.
According to him, the policy is aimed at improving early detection and reducing long-term illness burdens.
Speaking at the launch of the Free Primary Health Care policy at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital, President Mahama explained that while the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has expanded access to affordable healthcare, significant gaps remain, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
He noted that the current system often treats patients only after they fall ill, making it largely reactive rather than preventive.
He says, the Free Primary Health Care initiative is intended to address this gap by strengthening preventive services, including routine health screenings and early diagnosis of diseases.
President Mahama said unhealthy eating habits and increasingly sedentary lifestyles are fueling a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana, including hypertension, stroke, cancers, and kidney failure.
He added that the country’s disease profile is changing rapidly, with lifestyle-related conditions now accounting for a significant share of illnesses and deaths.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the rollout as a turning point in Ghana’s healthcare delivery, emphasizing that prevention will now be embedded into everyday health services.
He noted that trained health workers and volunteers will be deployed into communities, markets, schools, and workplaces to carry out screenings and intensify public health education.
Beginning in 150 underserved districts, Mr. Akandoh indicated that the initiative is expected to expand nationwide by 2028.
“With mobile clinics and outreach teams extending care to hard-to-reach areas, the policy is poised to reduce preventable diseases, cut healthcare costs, and build a healthier population, one that prioritizes wellness over illness,” he stated.
