President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has highlighted Ghana’s newly implemented Free Primary Medical Health Care Programme as a major step toward expanding healthcare access to underserved communities across the country.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, President Mahama said the initiative was designed to remove financial barriers preventing many citizens, particularly those in rural areas, from accessing basic healthcare services.
According to him, although Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains one of the most successful health insurance systems in Africa, about 34 percent of the population still remains without coverage.
He explained that the Free Primary Medical Health Care Programme was introduced to bridge that gap and ensure equitable healthcare delivery nationwide.
“By removing financial barriers to the most basic and essential services at the rural level, we have ensured that our citizens in the remotest regions of our country also enjoy access to quality healthcare, on par with their urban counterparts,” President Mahama stated.
The President disclosed that Ghana currently has an estimated NHIS coverage of 66 percent as of the end of 2025.
He further noted that his administration had revitalised the NHIS by removing the cap on the health insurance fund, which freed up an additional GHS 3 billion equivalent to about $300 million for healthcare investment.
President Mahama said the government had also introduced digital tools, including artificial intelligence systems, to detect fraudulent claims and streamline operations within the NHIS.
He stressed that prompt payments to healthcare providers remained critical to restoring trust within the healthcare system and ensuring patients receive dignified treatment.
President Mahama indicated that Ghana’s healthcare reforms formed part of the broader Accra Reset Initiative aimed at promoting health sovereignty across Africa.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 🇬🇭