Accra: The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GHS35,099,215.84 as the first-quarter payment to the 107 districts currently implementing the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) programme. This initiative, launched on April 15 in Dodowa by President John Dramani Mahama, signifies a major step in expanding Ghana's community-level health financing.
According to Ghana Web, unlike the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which reimburses providers on a service-by-service basis, the NHIA-funded FPHC operates on a population-based model. This model allocates resources according to the size of the population a district serves. The structure is designed to provide participating districts with predictable, upfront funding, enabling them to plan and deliver preventive care consistently, rather than relying on claims processing for each patient encounter.
The FPHC programme focuses on promotive healthcare at the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) level and is intended to complement the NHIS. Together, they form a two-pronged approach to Ghana's broader commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC): the FPHC emphasizes prevention and early detection at the community level, while the NHIS covers treatment once conditions require clinical or hospital-based care.
Services under the FPHC include routine screenings for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancers; maternal and child health services such as antenatal care, postnatal care, immunizations, and growth monitoring; and treatment of common illnesses including malaria, cholera, and respiratory infections. The programme also supports community outreach activities like home visits, school and workplace engagements, and public education campaigns aimed at reaching populations who may not otherwise visit a health facility.
These services are accessible at CHPS compounds, health posts, health centers, and polyclinics, with a particular focus on underserved districts. While primary care under the FPHC is free, referrals to district, regional, or teaching hospitals still require a valid NHIS card.
Commenting on the payment, NHIA Chief Executive, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, explained that the FPHC is designed to help keep Ghanaians healthier through regular checks and the adoption of healthier lifestyles, ensuring health conditions are identified and addressed before becoming serious. He encouraged Ghanaians, especially residents of participating districts, to take advantage of the programme by having their vitals checked regularly and following the advice of health professionals at these facilities. He highlighted that focusing on early detection of illnesses would lead to better and more cost-effective treatments.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to the continued rollout and funding of the FPHC programme as it works to extend promotive and preventive healthcare access to communities across the country.