A health policy expert has welcomed Ghana’s new free primary healthcare initiative, describing it as a timely intervention to strengthen access to medical services, particularly in underserved communities, but has raised concerns about funding and implementation gaps.
Alhaji Ahmed Kariyama, executive director of RISE Ghana, said on Dreamz FM’s Breakfast Today that the initiative reflects a necessary step toward improving primary healthcare delivery, especially in remote areas where access remains limited.
He said the policy aligns with global efforts toward universal health coverage and will help expand outreach services, disease prevention, and early detection of conditions such as breast cancer.
“The wealth of a nation thrives on the health and well-being of its people,” Alhaji Kariyama said. “So any effort to promote primary healthcare should be commended.”
The initiative, launched last week, aims to improve access to healthcare services at the community level, including the use of tricycles and motorcycles to support health workers in reaching remote areas.
However, Alhaji Kariyama cautioned that the policy’s reliance on existing funding sources such as the National Health Insurance Scheme and statutory funds could strain already limited resources.
“We were thinking government should have had a dedicated fund to finance this policy,” he said, warning that the current approach may overburden the health insurance system.
He also called for stronger accountability mechanisms and clearer community participation structures to ensure effective implementation.
