The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GHS35.1 million as its first-quarter payment to 107 districts implementing the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) programme.
The initiative, launched by President John Dramani Mahama at Dodowa on April 15, 2026, is aimed at expanding access to preventive and promotive healthcare at the community level.
Unlike the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which reimburses healthcare providers based on services delivered, the FPHC programme uses a population-based financing model.
Under the arrangement, participating districts receive funding according to the size of the populations they serve.
The NHIA says the approach is intended to provide districts with predictable funding to plan and deliver primary healthcare services without depending on claims processing for individual patient visits.
The FPHC programme focuses on prevention and early detection through Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facilities, while complementing the NHIS, which 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 such as antenatal and postnatal care, immunisation and child growth monitoring.
The programme also provides treatment for common illnesses, including malaria, cholera and respiratory infections.
In addition, health workers undertake community outreach activities, including home visits, school and workplace engagements, and public education programmes, to reach people who may not routinely visit health facilities.
The services are available at CHPS compounds, health posts, health centres and polyclinics, with particular attention to underserved communities.
While primary healthcare services provided under the FPHC programme are free, patients who require referrals to district, regional or teaching hospitals must have a valid NHIS card.
Commenting on the first-quarter payment, NHIA Chief Executive, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe said the programme was designed to help Ghanaians maintain better health through regular screening and early intervention.
He urged residents in participating districts to take advantage of the programme by having their vital signs checked regularly and following the guidance of health professionals.
Dr Bampoe stressed that early detection of diseases could lead to more effective and less costly treatment than waiting until conditions become severe and complicated.
The NHIA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the funding and expansion of the FPHC programme as part of efforts to improve access to preventive healthcare and advance Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.
