Free Primary Healthcare goes live: Over 4,500 facilities ready — 135 districts implement policy

Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare programme has officially gone live in 135 districts across all 16 regions, with 4,574 health facilities now participating in the government’s ambitious push to take basic healthcare closer to communities.

The programme, announced by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is being rolled out first in deprived districts as government seeks to shift healthcare delivery away from a predominantly hospital-based system towards prevention, early detection and community-level care.

4,574 facilities now providing free primary care

The participating facilities include:

• 3,781 CHPS compounds
• 746 health centres
• 48 polyclinics

Facilities operated by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and other partners are also participating in the programme.

Government’s first-phase target is 150 deprived districts, meaning the remaining 15 districts are expected to be added before the end of 2026. The broader objective is to extend free primary healthcare nationwide by the end of 2027.

No NHIS card? You can still access the service

One of the major features of the programme is that residents in the implementing districts do not need an active NHIS card to access services covered by the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.

Beneficiaries can visit participating facilities, register and receive the appropriate services. The programme is designed to complement, rather than replace, the National Health Insurance Scheme.

However, the Minister stressed that the initiative should not be mistaken for universal free hospital care. Services are focused primarily on the primary healthcare level, while cases requiring specialist treatment, surgery or hospital admission remain subject to the relevant financing arrangements.

Government distributes thousands of equipment

To prepare the health system for the rollout, the government says more than 24,500 pieces of medical equipment have been distributed to primary healthcare facilities.

The Ministry has also received 5,000 health worker bags containing basic equipment for house-to-house healthcare activities.

More than 7,000 motorbikes and tricycles are expected to support health professionals travelling into communities, particularly underserved areas.

Healthcare moves beyond the hospital

A major focus of the programme is preventive healthcare.

Health workers are expected to reach people in their communities through house-to-house visits and outreach activities, allowing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and other health risks to be detected before they become severe.

The Health Minister cited an early example involving health workers and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, where commercial drivers were screened for basic health conditions. One driver reportedly recorded a systolic blood pressure reading above 200mmHg and was prevented from driving that day.

‘Don’t pay illegal charges’

Mr Akandoh has issued a strong warning to health workers against demanding money for services that are supposed to be provided free of charge.

He urged beneficiaries to report any health worker who attempts to charge them illegally, saying the Ministry would investigate such complaints and take disciplinary action where necessary.

Dedicated complaint lines have also been announced. Telecel users can call 06447, while MTN users can call 0544446447 to seek assistance or report concerns.

The bigger ambition: healthcare before illness strikes

The rollout represents one of the major components of President John Dramani Mahama’s health sector reforms, with the government seeking to change the emphasis from treating advanced illnesses to preventing and detecting diseases earlier.

With 135 districts already live, more than 4,500 facilities participating and expansion to 150 districts targeted by year-end, the government is betting that bringing healthcare directly to people’s doorsteps can make prevention—not expensive treatment—the new frontline of Ghana’s healthcare system.