The Minister for Health, Hon. Mintah Akandoh, has revealed that the government is set to roll out a major health intervention granting every Ghanaian free access to primary healthcare, beginning in 2026. He made this announcement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 25.
Addressing the House, the Minister emphasised that cost remains one of the biggest obstacles to achieving universal health coverage. “Mr Speaker, one of the hindrances to achieving universal health coverage is cost,” he stated.
According to him, President John Dramani Mahama has already issued a clear directive to eliminate this barrier starting next year. “As I speak to you now, His Excellency the President has clearly directed that every Ghanaian, starting in 2026, will have access to free primary health care,” Hon. Akandoh announced.
He explained that the policy is designed to give real meaning to promotive, preventive, and curative healthcare, ensuring that citizens receive timely and essential medical attention without financial strain. “That free primary health care will give real meaning to promotive health care, to preventive health care, and the curative,” he added.
The Minister also highlighted the central role primary health services play in the country’s overall health system. Addressing the Speaker directly, he said: “You also agree with me yourself, you have been the Minister responsible for Health before, that the primary health care need of this country is about 80%. Therefore, when you get the primary health care right, you have a powerful health sector.”
