The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has revealed that the government’s newly introduced Free Primary Healthcare policy aims to serve millions of Ghanaians who are currently excluded from the nation’s health insurance system.
In an interview conducted on Wednesday, April 22, the Minister clarified that the policy is a direct response to the existing gaps in healthcare access, particularly impacting citizens who are not enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He stated that although the NHIS has significantly contributed to enhancing healthcare access over the years, a considerable segment of the population remains uninsured, rendering them vulnerable when seeking even basic medical services.
“We inherited a National Health Insurance coverage of 57 percent, and now we have increased it to approximately 66 percent. This indicates that over 12 million Ghanaians are not covered by Health Insurance. Therefore, if one assumes that nearly everyone is enrolled in the NHIS, it is a perilous assumption.
“The NHIS card is designed for subscribers, and if you are not a subscriber, you cannot utilize the National Health Insurance. Subscribers can access primary healthcare as part of the National Health Insurance, and currently, 34 percent of Ghanaians are not subscribers.”
The Minister underscored that the Free Primary Healthcare initiative aims to address this significant gap by ensuring that access to essential health services is not restricted to NHIS subscribers.
Under the existing framework, individuals who are not part of the NHIS often face the burden of paying out-of-pocket for basic care, a scenario that can deter early treatment and result in more serious health issues over time.
He pointed out that the policy intends to remove this obstacle by making primary healthcare services universally available, irrespective of an individual’s insurance status.
This encompasses services provided at community-based facilities, including clinics, health centers, and CHPS compounds, which act as the initial point of care for the majority of Ghanaians.
