The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has revealed the full scope of the country’s primary healthcare policy, describing it as the foundation of a robust health system capable of addressing most medical needs.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, on Monday, April 13, he explained that the policy ensures Ghanaians can access essential services at primary health facilities.
“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, including routine checks for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and mental health screening,” he said.
The policy covers cancer screening, maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, and growth monitoring. Mr. Akandoh emphasised prevention and public health education, including counselling on non-communicable diseases, family planning, and hygiene practices.
“It also includes cancer screening, maternal and child health services, immunisation, and treatment of common conditions like malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections,” he added.
The minister noted that primary healthcare will cover common illnesses, emergency care, counselling, and referrals. “These services address the majority of health needs in our population, and surveys show that about 80% of our health needs are primary healthcare,” he stated.
Strengthening primary healthcare is crucial to improving the overall health system, he stressed.”So if we get our primary healthcare right, it means we’re getting the system right and we’ll have a resilient health sector,” Akandoh said.
