150 underserved districts across the country will benefit from the first phase of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare Policy, according to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

According to him, the government remains committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to quality primary healthcare, regardless of income or location, and has supplied more than 24,000 pieces of medical equipment to health facilities.

He made the comment during the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament on Thursday, July 23.

He added, "Following the launch of the Free Primary Healthcare Policy in April 2026, the first phase of implementation is targeting 150 underserved districts across the country. Mr. Speaker, Government has distributed more than 24,000 pieces of medical equipment to strengthen diagnostic, emergency, maternal and neonatal care. In addition, community screening for hypertension, diabetes, cancers and other non-communicable diseases has been expanded."

The government’s flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme was launched on Wednesday, April 15, by President John Dramani Mahama at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

The Free Primary Healthcare Policy is the government’s bold initiative to ensure that every resident, especially vulnerable populations, can access essential health services without paying out-of-pocket at the point of care.

The initiative forms part of the key steps adopted towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

Ahead of its Free Primary Healthcare policy rollout, the Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who was speaking at the Government Accountability Series noted that the had received over 24,534 pieces of medical equipment.

“In preparation for implementation, we have procured and are ready to deploy 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment across the country. This is intended to ensure our facilities and health workers are equipped and ready.”

Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed over GH¢392 million in vetted claims to healthcare providers across Ghana between December 2025 and January 2026.

The payments cover services provided under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

According to the Finance Directorate of the NHIA, the funds were released following an extensive vetting and approval process of claims submitted by health facilities. In December 2025, the Authority paid GH¢301,658,338.13, while in January 2026, healthcare providers received GH¢90,373,513.13.

The NHIA in early July 205 disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country. The disbursement became possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe.

The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion. Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.

Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

One of the ways the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) seeks to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure equal access to healthcare, and reduce illegal fees is by proposing a 120 per cent increase in service tariffs, pending approval from its Board and the Minister of Health.

This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, during an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 26. According to Dr. Bampoe, the proposed tariff increase, if approved, would help reduce the extra charges patients pay at hospitals for medical care and services.

He explained that the proposed increase was planned in consultation with a group of independent experts mandated to review tariffs under Sections 33 and 34 of the National Health Insurance Act, which require annual revisions of both medicines and service tariffs.

“Regarding the 120% tariff increase: this is proposed after comprehensive work by a group of experts. The law requires an annual review of service and medicine tariffs (Sections 33 and 34). Although the review was delayed, the proposal is now ready and will go to our board and the Minister of Health for approval. Once approved, it will be implemented. This is partly to address the problem of illegal fees at hospitals, ensuring health providers are paid realistic tariffs so patients no longer have to pay out-of-pocket,” he said.

As the “cash manager” of Ghana’s health insurance system, Dr. Bampoe explained that the NHIA is mandated to collect funds, set tariffs, and pay hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies for services provided to insured patients.

However, he noted that the Authority plans to move beyond this traditional role and become more of a “strategic health purchasing provider.”