Free primary healthcare to prevent emergencies and reduce 'No Bed Syndrome'- Health Minister
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, said on Monday in Accra that the government's free primary healthcare policy is aimed at shifting Ghana's health system from a reactive, emergency-driven model to a preventive one. Mr. Akandoh said, "At least, every human being must visit health facilities at one point or another. At least, you must be doing a routine check-up."
Mr. Akandoh stated that the initiative is directly linked to efforts to address the country's recurring "no bed syndrome" in major hospitals. The government is also investing in digital systems to improve visibility of hospital bed availability across the country. A command centre is being developed to provide real-time data on available beds in regional and teaching hospitals, including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and University of Ghana Medical Centre.
The government has completed costing for the programme, estimating that at least GH¢1.2 billion annually will be required to sustain the initiative. Mr. Akandoh said, "This is not an ad hoc programme. We have thought through it, we have done our projections, and we know what we are doing."
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Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says the government is implementing a free primary healthcare policy. The goal is to shift the focus to prevention - and that could have implications for hospitals.
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