A new government policy aimed at delivering free primary healthcare to all Ghanaians is expected to close major gaps in the country’s health system, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Investment Fund, Abass Nurudeen.
Speaking ahead of the policy launch by President John Mahama on Wednesday, Mr Nurudeen said the initiative is designed to include people who are currently excluded from the National Health Insurance Scheme due to financial constraints.
“The service is bringing in all Ghanaians who are outside the National Health Insurance bracket,” he said on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on April 14.
“Those who could not afford primary healthcare because of financial barriers will now be covered.”
He stressed that the policy marks a shift from the existing system, which largely focuses on treating illness after it occurs. Instead, the new approach prioritises prevention and early detection.
“One distinctive feature is the focus on preventive and promotive healthcare rather than curative care,” he explained.
“Under health insurance, if you are sick, you go and get treatment. But conditions like hypertension and diabetes are not adequately covered, especially in terms of ongoing medication.”
Mr Nurudeen said the new policy would address this gap by identifying potential health conditions early and ensuring patients receive timely treatment.
“If you are identified as a potential hypertensive patient, steps are taken immediately to put you on medication so you don’t suffer complications like stroke,” he said. “These complications are expensive and place a heavy burden on individuals and the state.”
He added that the policy will place strong emphasis on public health education and regular screening, particularly for women. Mobile clinics will be deployed to busy public spaces including markets, churches, malls and community centres.
“We will take healthcare to high-traffic areas so we can pick early warning signs,” he said. “This approach can reduce the cost of advanced healthcare by up to 60 percent if conditions are detected early.”
Access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities is also a key focus, he noted. Many communities currently lack health facilities, rendering health insurance ineffective for residents.
“No matter how extensive insurance coverage is, some communities remain underserved because there are no facilities,” he said. “Even if you have a card, where do you use it?”
To address this, the government plans to deploy mobile health facilities to areas without clinics.
“We are bringing healthcare to the doorstep of the people,” Mr Nurudeen said.
The policy is expected to be formally launched on April 15, with officials hopeful it will improve access, reduce long-term healthcare costs and strengthen preventive care across the country.
