Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has presented the full scope of Ghana’s primary healthcare policy, describing it as the foundation of a resilient health system capable of addressing the majority of the nation’s medical needs. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, April 13, he emphasised that the policy is designed to ensure that every Ghanaian visiting a primary health facility has access to a wide range of essential services.
“In clear terms, it ensures that when a Ghanaian visits a primary health facility, they will be able to receive a range of essential services, and this includes routine screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and mental health screening,” he said. He explained that the services extend beyond basic treatment to include cancer screening and comprehensive maternal and child healthcare, such as antenatal and postnatal care, immunisation and growth monitoring.
According to him, the policy also places strong emphasis on prevention and public health education, including counselling on non-communicable diseases, family planning, immunisation, safe water practices, and menstrual hygiene.
He explained that the package also covers cancer screening, maternal and child health services such as antenatal and postnatal care, immunisation, and growth monitoring. In addition, it includes health promotion activities like counselling on non-communicable disease risks, family planning, safe water management, menstrual hygiene, and the treatment of common conditions such as malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections.
The Minister noted that primary-level care will extend to basic emergency services, counselling, and referrals where needed. “These are the interventions that meet the bulk of our population’s health needs, with surveys showing that nearly 80% of those needs fall within primary healthcare,” he stated. He stressed that strengthening this foundational level is critical to improving the overall health system, arguing that getting primary care right will significantly reduce the burden on higher-level facilities.
“So if we get our primary healthcare right, what it means is that we are getting the system right and we will have a resilient health sector and health system,” he said.
Source: Abigail Arthur