President John Dramani Mahama will officially launch Ghana’s Free Primary Health Care Programme on April 15, 2026, the government has confirmed, in what officials describe as one of the administration’s flagship social policy commitments.
Announcing the date during a presidential dialogue with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on March 30, 2026, President Mahama said the initiative seeks to remove financial barriers to basic health services and expand access to healthcare across the country.
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the programme is intended to provide universal primary healthcare, particularly targeting the significant share of Ghanaians not enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He disclosed that he spent Good Friday morning inspecting 24,534 pieces of medical equipment alongside Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, with distribution to health facilities expected to begin the following week. The items include X-ray machines, vital signs monitors, glucometers for diabetes screening, baby incubators, radiant warmers, oxygen concentrators, patient monitors, infusion devices, laboratory analysers, delivery beds, hospital beds, and ultrasound machines.
The Health Minister has confirmed that under the programme, Ghanaians and legally resident foreigners will be able to access basic healthcare services without paying at the point of care, with patients required to present a valid Ghana Card, voter identification, or National Health Insurance card at primary health facilities, including Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and health posts.
Community health volunteers are also expected to be deployed under the programme to conduct house-to-house checks of basic health indicators including blood pressure and blood sugar levels, to detect conditions early and reduce avoidable deaths.
President Mahama has described the Free Primary Healthcare Programme as a wellness and prevention-focused initiative designed to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, noting that many Ghanaians suffer cardiac events because they are unaware they have hypertension.
The programme will operate under the NHIS framework to avoid creating a parallel system and ensure seamless patient access, with the 2026 budget funding major upgrades to health facilities, particularly CHPS compounds that currently lack basic equipment.
President Mahama has called on CSOs to support public education, assist in monitoring implementation, and provide feedback to ensure the programme achieves its intended impact.
