Patience Edziah, the Executive Director of the Pateli Health Aid Missions (PAHAM), a health non-profit operating in Ghana and the United States, has commended the government’s concrete steps toward launching a free primary healthcare policy in April, targeting 100 deprived districts nationwide.
The initiative forms part of broader reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2028, aiming to extend services across the country.
In an interview with the Spyder Newspaper, Ms. Edziah indicated how the policy will deliver primary healthcare free of charge, dismantling financial barriers that have long hindered access in underserved communities.
She stressed that UHC – a global pledge under UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.8, which ensures quality health services without financial hardship – depends on effective rollout, particularly for Ghana’s vulnerable populations.
“I wish to commend the government for their dedication towards the implementation of the free primary healthcare policy. This is a pro-poor policy that grants individuals access to quality healthcare without financial barriers,” she stated.
Ms. Edziah urged governments to prioritize solutions for ordinary citizens, calling the policy a potential game-changer.
“If government roll-out this policy with measured outcomes, it will be a game-changer in the health sector and they must be encouraged until it covers the whole country,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh recently told stakeholders that the policy framework is complete. The Ministry is now conducting extensive consultations to build broad support ahead of implementation.
While annual costs remain unconfirmed, Akandoh noted that ongoing engagements will refine projections. He underscored prevention and health promotion as core pillars, with early detection and community interventions poised to cut long-term expenses.