Mahama: Free Primary Healthcare to Cover All 261 Districts by 2028

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government is targeting all 261 districts across Ghana for coverage under the Free Primary Healthcare programme by the end of 2028.

Speaking at a community engagement on the Free Primary Healthcare initiative at Fian in the Daffiama Bussie Issa District, President Mahama said the programme is intended to bring basic healthcare services directly to communities, particularly people living in deprived and underserved areas.

He explained that although National Health Insurance coverage has increased to about 76 percent of the population, some Ghanaians remain excluded from healthcare due to distance from health facilities and their inability to afford treatment.

According to him, the government’s response is to take healthcare services closer to the people through CHIPS compounds, health centres, polyclinics and health kiosks.

President Mahama said basic diagnosis and treatment, antenatal and postnatal care, as well as treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid and diarrhoeal diseases, would be provided free of charge at the primary healthcare level.

He stressed that patients accessing these services would not need an NHIS card or any identification document and would not be required to pay for the services.

President Mahama said the first phase of the programme targets 150 of the most deprived districts.

He announced that 135 districts had already been covered, with the remaining 15 expected to be onboarded by the end of 2026.

He said the programme would also focus heavily on preventive healthcare through regular health screening and home visits.

“Health professionals will visit households to screen residents for common ailments and identify health conditions that may otherwise go undetected,” the president noted.

President Mahama urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the free screening programme and get screened at least once every year, particularly for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

He also highlighted the importance of antenatal care, encouraging pregnant women to attend regular check-ups to improve the chances of safe delivery and healthy babies.

The President further announced plans to establish health kiosks in communities and busy locations such as lorry stations.

“The kiosks will be equipped to provide basic healthcare services and connected digitally to district hospitals to enable health professionals to consult doctors remotely,” president Mahama added.

He said the system would also help screen commercial drivers for conditions such as high blood pressure, helping to prevent health-related accidents on the roads.

President Mahama also disclosed that 25,000 pieces of equipment had so far been received and distributed under the programme, with an additional 12,000 expected.

“The equipment includes home-visit kits, motorcycles and tricycles to support healthcare workers in reaching communities,” he revealed.

Beyond primary healthcare, President Mahama said the government was also addressing the financial burden associated with serious illnesses through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

He cited the case of a child who required GH¢154,000 for surgery to correct three holes in the heart, saying the Ghana Medical Trust Fund covered the full cost of the operation.

The President, however, urged Ghanaians to continue registering for the National Health Insurance Scheme because patients referred from primary healthcare facilities to district hospitals would require NHIS coverage.

He said the government had cleared outstanding NHIS claims owed to health facilities and increased reimbursement rates to improve healthcare delivery.

President Mahama also commended health professionals who have accepted postings to underserved areas, describing their decision to serve in deprived communities as an act of patriotism.

He announced that the government was working with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to introduce a 20 percent basic salary incentive for health and education workers who accept postings to deprived and underserved districts.

He appealed to communities to support and make the health professionals posted to their areas feel welcome.

President Mahama said the government’s broader objective is to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare and ensure that quality healthcare is available to every Ghanaian, regardless of where they live.