The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has described the 2026 budget as the “most people-focused and health-centred” in recent years, outlining a series of ambitious investments and policy shifts aimed at revitalising the nation’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, he said the health sector had been allocated a record GH¢34 billion, representing a 9.4 per cent increase over the 2023 budget and more than 11 per cent of total government expenditure for 2026.
“We cannot have a productive country without paying attention to the health sector. The health of the people is the wealth of the nation,” Mr Akandoh said.
A significant portion of the allocation — GH¢11 billion, is dedicated to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The minister said active membership had grown from 18 million to nearly 20 million (approximately 60 per cent coverage) in less than a year.
He attributed this to the government’s decision to “uncap” the fund, ensuring prompt payment of claims to service providers, and the planned increase of provider tariffs by an average of 120 per cent starting next year.
“Gone were the days when service providers threatened withdrawal of services because they were not receiving payment,” the minister said.
Mr Akandoh further said that following a directive from the President, a Free Primary Healthcare programme would be rolled out next year under the NHIS.
An amount of GH¢1.5 billion had been earmarked for the initiative, which would focus on enhanced promotive and preventive care to ensure early disease detection.
The minister also announced that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as “MahamaCares”, established to tackle non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension and diabetes, was now fully operational.
With a board inaugurated and a secretariat functioning, the fund, which was allocated GH¢2.3 billion, had begun disbursing support to patients.
On infrastructure, Mr Akandoh said that the construction of three new regional hospitals in the Savannah, Oti and Western North regions would begin next year with a funding of GH¢600 million.
He gave an assurance that no uncompleted health facility, including projects such as La General Hospital, would be abandoned.
Mr Akandoh further observed that over 50 per cent of community-based health planning services (CHPS) compounds lacked basic tools.
As part of the free primary healthcare push, he said the government would undertake a major retooling exercise.
The minister also said that some 700 new medical doctors were being posted across the country, particularly to districts to ensure equitable distribution, adding, “I appeal to the medical officers not to see this policy as punishment”.
On Zipline drone medical delivery services in the country, the minister said that the government was currently paying over $500,000 monthly for the service, contrary to initial assurances by the previous administration that public funds would not be used.
After a review, the government found that only 12 per cent of deliveries went to hard-to-reach areas and four per cent were for emergencies, with items such as condoms, mosquito nets and exercise books being flown.
“We think that there must be value for money,” he said, adding that his outfit was renegotiating the contract.
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