President Mahama deploys 25,000 medical equipment to support Free Primary Healthcare

President John Dramani Mahama has announced the deployment of 25,000 pieces of medical equipment to health facilities across the country to support the implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme.

According to the President, the equipment is aimed at strengthening the capacity of health facilities and enabling health professionals to provide quality healthcare services, particularly in underserved and remote communities.

President Mahama made the announcement at a Free Primary Healthcare durbar at the Fiano Health Centre in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District of the Upper West Region, as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour.

He disclosed that government was expecting an additional 12,000 pieces of medical equipment to be received and distributed to further enhance healthcare delivery at the primary level.

The President said the equipment included kits for home visits, which would allow health professionals to conduct basic examinations and assess the health status of residents in their communities.

“The equipment includes the kits for the home visits. It has all the machines in there so that when they come, they can test you and know what your health status is,” President Mahama said.

He added that motorcycles and tricycles were also being provided to facilitate the movement of health workers to communities located far from health facilities.

President Mahama said the provision of equipment was an important component of the government’s strategy to make primary healthcare accessible to all Ghanaians.

The Free Primary Healthcare Programme provides basic healthcare services at CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics without direct charges to beneficiaries. These services include diagnosis and treatment, antenatal and postnatal care, and treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid and diarrhoeal diseases.

He emphasised that beneficiaries would not be required to have an NHIS card to access healthcare services under the programme at the primary level.

President Mahama said the programme had so far been rolled out in 135 districts, with the remaining 15 districts expected to be brought on board by the end of 2026.

Government’s broader objective, he said, was to extend Free Primary Healthcare to all 261 districts in Ghana by the end of 2028.

The President noted that the programme was not only about treating illnesses but also focused on prevention through community outreach, screening and regular home visits.

He urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the free screening services and regularly check their health status, particularly for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

President Mahama said the combination of medical equipment, improved health infrastructure and the deployment of health professionals to deprived areas would help ensure that the Free Primary Healthcare Programme achieved its intended impact.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would bring essential healthcare services closer to communities and improve health outcomes across the country.