“Free Primary Healthcare will complement not replace NHIS” — Health Minister

Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has clarified that the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative is not intended to compete with or replace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), but is designed to complement the scheme by strengthening preventive and community-level healthcare delivery.

Mr. Akandoh said the initiative represents a major shift towards prevention and early intervention, with the government seeking to bring essential healthcare services closer to people in their communities and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for basic medical care.

Speaking to journalists on the implementation of the programme, the Health Minister explained that the Free Primary Healthcare initiative would focus primarily on CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics, rather than major referral hospitals such as the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals.

He said patients who require specialised or advanced medical attention beyond the primary healthcare level would be referred to the appropriate facilities, with the NHIS continuing to provide financial protection for eligible services at the next level of care.

“Free Primary Healthcare is not intended to compete with or replace the NHIS,” Mr. Akandoh said.

According to him, the two interventions are expected to work together to create a stronger and more sustainable healthcare system.

He said effective implementation of both the NHIS and Free Primary Healthcare would, in the long term, significantly reduce pressure on the national health insurance system, particularly by preventing illnesses before they become severe and expensive to treat.

“If we implement the National Health Insurance and the Free Primary Healthcare well, in the long run it will reduce drastically the pressure on the National Health Insurance Scheme,” the Minister said.

Mr. Akandoh stressed that prevention remained one of the most effective ways of improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare expenditure.

He explained that treating diseases at an advanced stage could impose significant financial pressure on both individuals and the state, whereas early detection, prevention and timely intervention could help reduce the cost of treatment.

The initiative is therefore expected to strengthen community-based services, including outreach and house-to-house healthcare, enabling health workers to identify health challenges earlier and connect residents to appropriate care.

Equipment and Mobility for Health Workers

The Minister disclosed that the government was equipping health facilities and community health teams to support the implementation of the programme.

He said government was expecting more than 12,000 pieces of additional equipment in the next batch, while approximately 5,000 bags were also expected to be delivered in the following week as part of efforts to improve the capacity of frontline health workers.

Mr. Akandoh further announced plans to distribute not less than 7,000 motorbikes and tricycles across the country.

He said the vehicles would improve the mobility of health workers and make it easier for them to undertake community outreach, house-to-house visits and other essential services, particularly in areas where transportation remains a challenge.

The Health Minister also identified Mahama Care as another important component of the government’s healthcare protection strategy.

He said the programme was particularly relevant to patients suffering from non-communicable diseases, including cancer, which often require prolonged treatment and can impose significant financial burdens on families.

According to him, Mahama Care is expected to help address gaps in healthcare financing and provide additional protection for people whose conditions require expensive and long-term medical care.

Mr. Akandoh said the Free Primary Healthcare initiative was being implemented on a broad national scale, with 4,574 facilities currently covered.

These comprise 3,781 clinics, 746 health centres and 48 polyclinics.

He said the government was also working with relevant agencies and faith-based health providers to expand access and ensure that the programme reaches communities across the country.

The collaboration includes health facilities affiliated with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission.

The Minister said the ultimate objective of the Free Primary Healthcare initiative was to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by ensuring that Ghanaians can access appropriate and essential healthcare services regardless of where they live.

He said strengthening primary healthcare would bring the health system closer to communities, encourage early detection and treatment, and reduce unnecessary pressure on higher-level hospitals.

Mr. Akandoh also disclosed that an accessibility system, including the generation of a one-time accessibility code, had been established to facilitate access to the programme.

He maintained that the government’s broader healthcare strategy was based on the principle that a strong primary healthcare system, supported by a functional NHIS and targeted interventions such as Mahama Care, would provide a more comprehensive safety net for Ghanaians.

The initiative, he said, is ultimately aimed at moving Ghana’s healthcare system from one that largely responds to illness to one that places greater emphasis on prevention, early intervention and accessible care within communities.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith