Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare programme is operating in 135 districts, four months after the Health Ministry said the first phase would cover 150 underserved districts.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh gave the update on 7 September. He said the 135 districts span all 16 regions and that 4,574 facilities are participating.
That is 15 districts short of the first-phase figure published on the ministry’s own programme page in April, when the launch was set for 15 April.
Akandoh said the government still intends to reach 150 districts by the end of 2026. He also said the programme should cover the whole country by the end of 2027. In April the ministry had described nationwide coverage as the aim of a 2026 to 2028 rollout.
He listed Community-based Health Planning and Services compounds, health centres and polyclinics among the participating sites, and said facilities run by the Christian Health Association of Ghana and other partners are also included.
The April announcement said people would receive essential primary care at no charge, including screening for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, maternal and child healthcare, immunisation and treatment of common illnesses. It also said the National Health Insurance Scheme would still be needed for referrals and specialised treatment at higher-level hospitals.
Akandoh said residents in the 135 districts do not need an NHIS card to use the primary service. Graphic reported that they can walk into a participating facility and receive care after registration.
He warned health workers not to demand payment for services covered by the programme and said the ministry would provide a short code or telephone number for complaints. That contact number had not been published in the accounts of the briefing that were checked.