The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended President John Dramani Mahama for the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care initiative, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening healthcare delivery and advancing Universal Health Coverage.

The Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a post on X on Thursday, April 16, praised the initiative and its potential impact on population health, noting that strong primary healthcare systems remain central to disease prevention and early treatment.

“This important milestone brings Ghana closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage. Strong primary health care is essential to improving population health, enabling earlier detection, timely treatment, and more effective disease prevention,” he said.

The Free Primary Health Care initiative forms a central pillar of the Mahama administration’s social contract, with a strong emphasis on expanding access to essential health services, particularly in underserved communities.

Under its first phase, the programme will be implemented in 150 underserved districts nationwide over the next two months, targeting populations with limited access to quality healthcare.

The policy represents a strategic shift from a treatment-heavy system to a prevention-driven model. It includes routine screenings for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancers, alongside maternal healthcare services like antenatal and postnatal care.

Additionally, the programme provides immunisations and full treatment for common conditions, including malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections, conditions that remain leading causes of illness in many parts of the country.

Beyond clinical services, the initiative also prioritises health education, offering counselling on family planning, menstrual hygiene, and safe water practices, as part of efforts to promote long-term behavioural change and improve public health outcomes