NHIA Releases GH35.1 Million for Free Primary Healthcare Services in Ghana

• The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GH¢35.1 million to fund the Free Primary Healthcare programme in Ghana.
• The FPHC operates on a population-based model, providing predictable upfront funding for preventive care to participating districts.
• While primary care under the FPHC is free, referrals to higher-level facilities require a valid NHIS card.
• The programme delivers essential health services, including routine screening and treatment of common illnesses.
• Ghana's commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is strengthened through the two-pronged approach of the FPHC and NHIS.

This structure is designed to give participating districts predictable, upfront funding to plan and deliver preventive care consistently, rather than waiting on claims processing for each patient encounter.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has made a significant payment of GH¢35,099,215.84 to the 107 districts implementing the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) programme in Ghana. This first-quarter payment is part of the NHIA's commitment to funding the programme, which was launched on April 15 this year by President John Dramani Mahama at Dodowa. The FPHC initiative marks a major expansion of community-level health financing in Ghana and operates on a population-based model, where resources are allocated according to district size. This approach provides participating districts with predictable upfront funding for preventive care, rather than relying on claims processing for each patient encounter.

Unlike the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which reimburses providers on a service-by-service basis, the NHIA-funded FPHC operates on a population-based model. This distinction is crucial for understanding how resources are allocated and how healthcare services are delivered under each programme. The NHIA's funding structure allows participating districts to plan and deliver preventive care consistently, while the NHIS focuses on reimbursing providers for individual patient encounters. This two-pronged approach complements Ghana's broader commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with the FPHC anchoring prevention and early detection at the community level and the NHIS covering treatment once conditions require clinical or hospital-based care.

The Free Primary Healthcare programme is designed to provide accessible healthcare services to communities across Ghana, particularly in underserved districts. The programme delivers a range of essential health services, including routine screening for chronic diseases, maternal and child health services, and treatment of common illnesses. While primary care under the FPHC is free, referrals to higher-level facilities still require a valid NHIS card. This highlights the importance of ensuring that clients have adequate health insurance coverage to access necessary healthcare services. As Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, NHIA Chief Executive, noted, regular checks and healthy lifestyles can help prevent serious health conditions from developing, making early detection and treatment more effective and cost-efficient.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that the Free Primary Healthcare Services are free, but referrals to higher-level facilities still require a valid NHIS card, highlighting the importance of ensuring clients have adequate health insurance coverage.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian Times