Ghana is set to roll out a nationwide Free Primary Healthcare Policy (FHCP) by early April to improve access to basic health care for persons in remote and underserved communities.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, who made this known at a stakeholder engagement in Accra on Friday, said the policy was part of a package of an interlinked health sector reforms aimed at accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“This policy is a key campaign pledge of President John Dramani Mahama and will allow Ghanaians and legally resident foreigners to access basic healthcare services without paying at the point of care,” he said.
The Health Minister said the public would have to present a valid form of identification such as a Ghana Card, voter ID or National Health Insurance card to access the service in all Primary Health Care facilities, including Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and health posts.
The policy, which seeks o promote preventive healthcare, is being designed to address financial barriers that continue to prevent many people from seeking care early, and health check up especially at the community level.
Mr Akandoh said the free primary healthcare policy was being rolled out with other major reforms, including the uncapping of NHIS funding and the introduction of “Mahama Cares”.
The Mahama Cares is a dedicated initiative aimed at supporting the treatment and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.
The Minister said under the policy free primary healthcare would cover an estimated 70–80 per cent of the average Ghanaian’s health needs, while the strengthened NHIS would support access to secondary and tertiary care.
He noted that Mahama Cares, in turn, was expected to cushion patients who face catastrophic health costs from chronic and life-threatening NCDs.
He said to ensure an all inclusive PHC policy, the government was undertaking extensive consultations before implementation to ensure broad-based support and smooth execution.
“So far, engagements have been held with professional bodies such as the Ghana Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, manufacturers, development partners and the media,” he noted.
Further consultations are planned with Parliament, transport unions, market associations, and traditional authorities.
“We want everyone to understand the policy, contribute ideas and take ownership,” Mr Akandoh said.
He said the policy placed strong emphasis on prevention, especially in tackling unhealthy diets and lifestyles that drove the growing burden of NCDs.
“Community health nurses under the CHPS programme will intensify outreach to homes, markets, churches, mosques and farms to promote healthy eating, routine medical check-ups and early screening for conditions such as cancer and hypertension,” he said.
The Health Minister encouraged the public to adopt early health seeking behaviour saying, “You don’t have to be sick before you go to the health facility”.
Mr Issac Ampomah, Vice Chair of the Greater Accra Coalition of NGOs in health lauded the initiative.
“The policy has beautiful concepts, and we will engage the public on the policy to ensure its smooth implementation,” he said.
