By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Minister for Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has clarified that the government’s flagship Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy will require only a valid Ghana Card for citizens to access medical services at the primary level.
The Health Minister announced this during a press engagement today, Monday, April 13, 2026, at the Jubilee House, emphasising that the initiative is designed to eliminate financial barriers that previously hindered the vulnerable from seeking early medical intervention and promote early access to healthcare across the country.
“The vision of President John Dramani Mahama is simple: no Ghanaian should be turned away from a CHPS compound, a health centre, or a polyclinic because they lack a health insurance card or the cash to pay for a consultation. Under this policy, your National ID, the Ghana Card, is your primary passport to free care,” Mr. Akandoh stated.
The Free Primary Healthcare policy, which officially rolled out earlier this year, covers outpatient services, essential medicines, and maternal care at the district level and below.
The Health Minister said the initiative complements the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which will now focus its resources on secondary and tertiary care, including specialized treatments under the Mahama Cares Trust Fund.
Mr. Akandoh noted that data integration between the National Identification Authority (NIA) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is nearly complete, ensuring that patient records can be accessed digitally across various primary facilities.
“We are removing the ‘money-cracy’ from basic healthcare. If you have your Ghana Card, you have a doctor,” he added.
The Health Minister also used the occasion to announce that the Ministry is fast-tracking the distribution of essential medical consumables to rural clinics to meet the expected increase in patient attendance following the policy’s implementation.
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