The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has said that the NHIA has decided to introduce a Free Primary Healthcare policy.

In a recent interview, he emphasised that about 80% of Ghanaians’ healthcare needs occur at the primary level, adding that many people face financial barriers at that stage, which makes it difficult for them to access services.

"Primary health care is a healthcare at the first point of contact for Ghanaians, level you get your basic healthcare, here we are saying that it is going to be free."

"Because we realised that almost about 80% healthcare needs are at the primary level and if you have financial barriers at the primary level then people find it difficult entrying into the healthcare system," he stated.

He said that although the National Health Insurance Scheme is in place, about 34% of Ghanaians are not enrolled.

He added that making basic care free will enable more people to access healthcare and, in turn, encourage them to obtain an NHIA card.

He explained that if a patient’s condition cannot be addressed at the free primary healthcare level, it will be referred to the next stage, and even to the Mahama care level if the issue is still not resolved.

Mr Bampoe further explained that the policy could also help with earlier detection of incurable diseases such as cancer, mental health conditions and strokes, helping to prevent them from worsening.

"Because of lifestyle changes we are also getting cancer, stroke, mental health conditions but for these non communicable diseases mostly it starts slowly and silently and we only pick them up when they become a problem and very complex to deal with," he said.