The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that all districts in Ghana’s Upper East Region have been included in the first phase of the government’s Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) programme.
The announcement was made during an engagement with opinion leaders, stakeholders and media communicators in the region as part of efforts to strengthen public awareness of the Free Primary Health Care policy.
According to the Health Minister, the initiative is designed to improve access to affordable and essential healthcare services at the primary healthcare level, particularly for residents who may face financial or geographical barriers to medical care.
Mr. Akandoh said the government’s objective is to ensure that every Ghanaian can access basic healthcare services regardless of their location, income level or economic circumstances.
Government to Address Healthcare Staff Shortages
The Minister also assured stakeholders that government would work towards the equitable distribution of healthcare professionals across the Upper East Region.
He explained that the distribution of medical staff is important to preventing communities from being underserved because of shortages of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
The government’s approach, he noted, is expected to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve the quality of health services available to residents across the region.
Call for Public Education on Free Healthcare Policy
Mr. Akandoh urged opinion leaders, community leaders and communicators to support government’s public education and awareness campaign on the Free Primary Health Care programme.
He said effective public education would help residents understand how the policy works and enable them to take full advantage of the healthcare services available under the initiative.
The Free Primary Health Care programme forms part of government’s broader efforts to expand healthcare access, promote preventive healthcare and reduce financial barriers to essential medical services in Ghana.
The implementation of the policy in the Upper East Region is therefore expected to provide greater opportunities for residents to access primary healthcare services closer to their communities.
Source: newsthemegh.com