The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has said the government will require at least GH₵1.2 billion annually to implement its proposed Free Primary Healthcare policy, underscoring the scale of investment needed to transform healthcare delivery nationwide.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, April 13, the Minister outlined the financial framework underpinning the initiative, which is aimed at expanding access to essential healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.
He noted that a comprehensive costing exercise has already been completed to determine both the immediate and long-term financial requirements of the programme. According to him, this approach is intended to ensure the policy is grounded in careful planning and sustainability, rather than being a short-term measure.
The Minister added that the policy has undergone extensive consultations with stakeholders and health sector experts to ensure its design is both practical and effective.
He expressed confidence that the level of preparation behind the initiative positions it for successful implementation.
“We have done the costing, and we need not less than GH₵1.2 billion a year to run this. It is not an ad hoc programme. We have thought it through, engaged widely, and made our projections. We know what we are doing,” he said.