The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GH¢35,099,215.84 to 107 districts participating in Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) programme as payment for the first quarter of implementation.
The FPHC programme was launched on April 15, 2026, at Dodowa by President John Dramani Mahama as part of efforts to strengthen community-level healthcare and advance Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
Unlike the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which reimburses healthcare providers based on services provided, the FPHC programme uses a population-based funding model. Under this system, districts receive funding based on the number of people they serve, allowing them to plan and provide preventive healthcare without waiting for individual claims to be processed.
The programme focuses on promotive and preventive healthcare at the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) level. It complements the NHIS, with the FPHC concentrating on prevention and early detection, while the NHIS supports treatment when patients require clinical or hospital-based care.
Services provided under the programme include screening for hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancers, as well as maternal and child healthcare services such as antenatal and postnatal care, immunisation and child growth monitoring.
It also provides treatment for common illnesses, including malaria, cholera and respiratory infections. Community outreach initiatives such as home visits, school and workplace engagements, and public education campaigns are also supported to reach people who may not regularly visit health facilities.
The free services are available at CHPS compounds, health posts, health centres and polyclinics, particularly in underserved communities. However, patients requiring referrals to district, regional or teaching hospitals must have a valid NHIS card.
Commenting on the release of the funds, NHIA Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe said the programme is intended to help Ghanaians remain healthier through regular health checks and the adoption of healthier lifestyles.
He urged residents in participating districts to take advantage of the initiative by having their vital signs checked regularly and following the guidance of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Bampoe emphasised that detecting illnesses early can lead to better health outcomes and lower treatment costs compared with waiting until conditions become severe and more difficult to manage.
The NHIA has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the funding and nationwide expansion of the FPHC programme to increase access to preventive and promotive healthcare at the community level.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar