GHS boss calls for stronger commitment to make Free Primary Health Care work

Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has been advocating for a more committed approach to ensure the successful execution of the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) program. He emphasized that the initiative should focus on communities still struggling to access essential healthcare services, as quality care should be brought closer to people rather than forcing them to travel long distances for treatment.

Speaking at a Free Primary Health Care durbar in Zuarungu, within the Bolgatanga East District, Dr Akoriyea drew upon his extensive 18-year experience in Cuba, highlighting the country's healthcare model as a prime example of making medical services accessible to all. He reiterated that healthcare access is a fundamental right and reflected on the valuable lessons Ghanaian professionals learned from Cuba during their studies.

Dr Akoriyea also underscored Ghana's earlier initiatives aimed at delivering specialist services directly to underserved communities, specifically mentioning the introduction of mobile advanced medical units approximately 13 years ago. These units started in Accra and were later expanded to other regions, where he managed them until 2016.

Dr Akoriyea's firsthand experience with the mobile health program emphasized the significance of bringing medical services to communities rather than relying on residents to travel to health facilities. He pledged to play a pivotal role in transforming the Free Primary Health Care policy into tangible services for Ghanaians, particularly those residing in deprived areas.