President John Mahama has unveiled a detailed implementation plan for his flagship Free Primary Healthcare Programme, setting out a tiered system aimed at expanding access to medical services across Ghana, particularly in underserved communities.
The rollout is expected to begin in 150 districts nationwide, using a phased approach that combines healthcare personnel with mobile technology and community-based delivery models. A key feature of the programme is the revival of the “On Your Doorstep” initiative, which will deploy motorcycles, mobile clinics, and containerised Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facilities to reach remote and hard-to-access areas.
According to President Mahama, the new system will operate through three main levels of care.
At the primary level, services will be completely free for all citizens. This stage covers CHPS compounds, health centres, and community health kiosks, where patients can access screening and treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, cholera, and respiratory infections without needing an NHIS card. A Ghana Card or any valid form of identification will be sufficient. The focus here is on prevention, early detection, and community outreach.
Cases requiring more advanced attention will be referred to the secondary level, which includes district and municipal hospitals. At this stage, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will take over the cost of treatment and medication, a structure the government says is intended to ease pressure on major hospitals by reducing minor cases at higher-level facilities.
For specialised or critical conditions such as kidney failure and cancer, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund—also known as Mahama Cares—will provide financial support, ensuring patients can access high-cost treatment that would otherwise be out of reach.
The programme will be powered by a mix of experienced health professionals and newly recruited volunteers. This includes National Service personnel, as well as trained but unemployed nurses and paramedics who will be deployed for community-level screenings.
President Mahama noted that these volunteers will be fully equipped with basic medical tools, including glucose monitors, stethoscopes, and blood pressure apparatus, enabling them to conduct screenings even in informal settings such as under trees in remote communities.
To encourage continuity within the health system, he added that participants in the programme will be given priority consideration for permanent employment within the Ghana Health Service after their service period.