The government has procured more than 24,534 pieces of medical equipment for deployment to health facilities across the country as part of the yet-to-be-launched Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) Policy, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has disclosed.
The equipment, he said, includes critical items such as incubators to support neonatal care, glucometers for the routine screening and management of diabetes, hospital beds to improve patient care capacity, and ultrasound machines to enhance diagnostic services, particularly for maternal health.
“We have procured and are ready to deploy 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment across the country. This is intended to ensure our facilities and health workers are equipped and ready for implementation,” he said.
Addressing journalists at the Presidency in Accra yesterday, Mr Akandoh explained that the policy, which is scheduled to be launched by President John Dramani Mahama tomorrow, would be implemented across Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres, and polyclinics.
The policy, he noted, was a flagship campaign promise in the run-up to the 2024 general elections.
Mr Akandoh said the first phase of the policy would be rolled out in 150 underserved districts and is expected to cover the entire country by 2028.
Beyond these delivery points, he added: “We will have a more structured approach to disease prevention and health promotion by moving into our communities and households with these services.”
“It is important to emphasise that there will be no cost for preventive, promotive, and curative services within the FPHC service package. The only requirement is a valid national ID,” he said.
The minister explained that if a patient’s condition is beyond what a CHPS compound can handle, the patient would be referred to a health centre and subsequently to a polyclinic.
He highlighted that the policy covers routine screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and mental health conditions, as well as cancer screening, maternal and child health services, antenatal care, postnatal care, immunisation, and growth monitoring, among others.
According to him, the government is undertaking a retooling drive to prepare facilities for smooth healthcare delivery.
On funding, Mr Akandoh said the policy would be financed through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He added that the foundation stage of the policy implementation has already been captured in the 2026 Budget.
The policy, he said, has been carefully designed, with service delivery points mapped and referral systems defined over the past year and further refined based on input from a cross-section of stakeholders.
He urged persons who have not enrolled in the NHIS to do so, as they would need it to access healthcare at district hospitals and higher levels.
“This policy is about changing outcomes. It is about ensuring that Ghanaians do not wait until they are seriously ill before seeking care. It is about ensuring early detection of diseases, reducing avoidable illness, preventing deaths, and improving the overall health of our population,” he emphasised.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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