Navrongo: The Government has reiterated its commitment to expanding access to healthcare through the implementation of the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) policy, aimed at advancing Ghana's goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, stated this during a courtesy call on the Navro-Pio, Pe Denis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, at his palace. The visit was part of a monitoring mission to assess the implementation of the FPHC programme in the area. He explained that the policy was introduced to ensure that all Ghanaians, particularly those in underserved communities, had access to essential healthcare services regardless of their location or ability to pay.
The Minister outlined that although the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) had significantly expanded healthcare access, some Ghanaians remained outside its coverage. Mr. Akandoh, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for the Juaboso Constituency in the Western North region, emphasized that the FPHC initiative was designed to complement, not replace, the NHIS. He noted, "The Free Primary Health Care has not come to replace the National Health Insurance. It is complementing the National Health Insurance. It will reduce the pressure on the National Health Insurance."
Under this initiative, health professionals will visit communities and households to conduct basic health screenings, including checks on blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and body mass index. Mr. Akandoh stated that this approach would facilitate disease prevention and early detection before conditions develop into more complicated health challenges. He added, "If there is a need for us to prevent the disease, we will prevent it before it even happens in the first place, and if there is a need for us to detect it early, we do so on time."
The services provided under the programme will be offered free of charge to beneficiaries. The first phase of the programme targets 150 districts, with implementation already underway in about 135 districts across all 16 regions of the country. Priority has been given to underserved districts, with all 15 districts in the Upper East Region included in the first phase due to their underserved status.
Mr. Akandoh highlighted that modern medical equipment had been supplied to health facilities participating in the programme, and health workers were equipped with mobile kits required for household-level health assessments. The initiative aims to enable health workers to identify patients needing further medical attention and refer them to appropriate healthcare facilities.
To improve mobility, the Government will provide about 7,000 motorbikes and tricycles to health workers, enhancing their ability to reach communities and households effectively. The Minister encouraged Ghanaians to utilize the initiative, stressing that access to FPHC services would not depend on NHIS card possession. He urged the public to embrace the programme as part of efforts to promote preventive healthcare, improve early disease detection, and reduce the burden on the country's healthcare system.