Accra, Ghana — The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) on Monday 26th January 2026 participated in a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by the Ministry of Health (MoH) as part of preparations toward the rollout of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare (PHC) policy, scheduled for implementation in March.

The engagement, led by the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, brought together key actors across the health sector to solicit technical input and frontline perspectives to refine the policy ahead of its submission to Cabinet and Parliament. The Minister described the meeting as a listening exercise aimed at strengthening the policy framework to ensure equity, sustainability, and effective service delivery.

The PSGH delegation was led by its President, Pharm. Paul Owusu Donkor, PhD, and included the Executive Secretary, Rev. Dennis Sena Awitty; Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr. (Pharm) Harry Amoaning Okyere; Executive Member, Pharm. Lucia Addae; and Mr. Saviour Yevutsey, Acting Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health.

Presenting the technical framework for the policy, the Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) at the MoH, Dr. Belinda Afriyie Nimako, outlined that the Free PHC policy builds on existing primary healthcare structures, including CHPS compounds, health centres, and the National Health Insurance Scheme, while introducing reforms aimed at expanding access and strengthening preventive and promotive care. She noted that services under the policy would be free at the point of use, without requiring NHIS registration, and would cover preventive, basic curative, maternal and child health, mental health, essential medicines, basic diagnostics, and emergency stabilisation services.

During the engagement, the PSGH made technical contributions highlighting the readiness and capacity of pharmacists to support the successful implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare policy, particularly at the community level. The Society emphasized the need for deliberate consideration of medicine access, rational medicine use, and the role of pharmaceutical services in achieving the policy’s objectives.

The PSGH delegation welcomed the consultative approach adopted by the Ministry and reiterated the importance of sustained stakeholder engagement as technical work continues ahead of the policy’s rollout. Further consultations are expected in the coming weeks as the Ministry finalizes the policy framework.