Mahama outlines Ghana’s strategy to expand healthcare and produce medicines locally

President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled Ghana's plan to enhance healthcare access while simultaneously bolstering the nation's ability to manufacture medicines, vaccines, and other health-related products domestically. Speaking at the Health Plenary of the Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, Mahama announced that Ghana is executing what he terms the "Accra Reset" through a blend of expanded healthcare coverage and initiatives aimed at bolstering local health-sector production.

Among the key components of this strategy are the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the rollout of Free Primary Health Care, and the creation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund. "Our approach in Ghana comprises expanding the National Health Insurance Scheme, introducing Free Primary Health Care, and launching the Ghana Medical Trust Fund," Mahama explained.

The government is also beefing up the capacities of the Food and Drugs Authority and the National Vaccine Institute as part of its broader effort to transition from being a mere consumer of health products to a producer. Mahama emphasized that this strategy is designed to enable Ghana to more effectively engage in regional health value chains, rather than relying heavily on imported health products.

He argued that bolstering domestic production could help preserve foreign exchange, promote industrial development, and provide greater resilience against international supply disruptions. Mahama highlighted that Ghana's journey is part of a wider continental initiative to construct a self-sustaining African health ecosystem. He cited Egypt's efforts in addressing Hepatitis C and Nigeria's African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja as instances of African initiatives striving to build domestic capabilities and keep health-related skills and resources within the continent.

"We don't need to look outside our continent to witness the effectiveness of these strategies," Mahama stated.