The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mimtah Akandoh, has revealed that 4,574 health facilities across the country are currently providing services under the government’s Free Primary Health Care programme.
The first phase of the programme is currently being implemented in 135 of Ghana’s 216 districts, covering all 16 regions.
The Minister gave an update on the programme on Monday, September 7, and said the government had taken a conscious step to ensure that deprived districts and communities with the greatest healthcare needs benefit first.
He said the Upper West, Upper East, Oti and Western North regions were among the areas where the programme has commenced.
Akandoh stated that the ultimate goal of the programme is to ensure that every part of the country has access to free primary healthcare by the end of 2027.
“We have 135 districts out of the 216, and they are all in the 16 regions. So in every region, we have selected the deprived district to be part of the first phase,” he said.
The Minister provided statistics on the 4,574 participating facilities, saying they included 3,781 CHPS compounds, 746 health centres and 48 polyclinics, alongside other participating facilities.
He also disclosed that the programme is not limited to government-owned facilities, noting that facilities operated by the Christian Health Association of Ghana and Ahmadiyya are also participating in the initiative.
“We’re not leaving anybody behind,” Akandoh said, highlighting the government’s primary goal of broadening access to quality and essential healthcare services across the country.
The primary objective of the programme is to ensure universal access to essential and quality healthcare services, without financial barriers.