Protect the integrity of free primary healthcare
The government’s decision to extend free primary healthcare to thousands of facilities across the country is one of the more important steps in the effort to make healthcare accessible to ordinary Ghanaians.
The figures are encouraging. At least 4,574 healthcare facilities in 135 districts have commenced full implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy, with the government targeting all 150 districts in the first phase by the end of the year.
Behind those numbers, however, are millions of Ghanaians who will judge the policy not by the number of facilities listed on paper, but by what happens when they walk into a CHPS compound, health centre or polyclinic. That is where the real test begins.
The Ghanaian Times welcomes the government’s decision to take primary healthcare closer to communities, particularly deprived areas.
The emphasis on prevention, health education, early detection and treatment of common illnesses is the right direction for a country that cannot afford to wait until people become seriously ill before seeking care.
It is equally encouraging that the policy is being supported with investments in equipment, transport and outreach.
The distribution of 24,500 pieces of essential hospital equipment, more than 7,000 motorbikes and tricycles and 5,000 outreach kits should strengthen the ability of health workers to reach people who might otherwise remain outside the formal healthcare system.
The 30 prefabricated health posts already established at strategic locations such as markets and transport stations are another practical step.
Healthcare should not always require a long and expensive journey. But infrastructure and equipment alone will not make the policy succeed.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has drawn an important line by warning that illegal charges will not be tolerated. That warning must be backed by action.
If a service falls within the FPHC package, no patient should be asked to pay unofficial fees.
There must be no “registration fee”, “processing fee”, “consultation money” or any other invented charge designed to defeat the purpose of the policy.
The proposed short code and telephone number for reporting such incidents should therefore be made public without delay.
More importantly, complaints must be investigated promptly and offenders sanctioned. Otherwise, the promise of free healthcare will gradually become another policy that exists more convincingly in official statements than in people’s daily experiences.
We urge the Ministry of Health to pay close attention to the quality of care. Free healthcare that comes with long queues, absent health workers, inadequate medicines or poorly maintained facilities cannot be regarded as a complete success.
The government must therefore monitor the programme continuously, publish clear performance indicators and listen to patients and frontline health workers.
The population-based financing system for preventive and promotive services and the claims system for curative care must be transparent and adequately funded.
Above all, the policy must not become a casualty of implementation gaps.
The government has made a significant promise to the Ghanaian people.
It must now ensure that the promise reaches the last mile, the rural community, the poor household, the pregnant woman, the child, the elderly person and everyone who needs basic care but may hesitate to seek it because of cost.
Free primary healthcare is too important to be allowed to fail.
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