The Minister for Communications and Presidential Spokesperson in the then Mahama Administration, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah says Ghana could remove all the hindrances and barriers to equal access to healthcare through the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) proposed Free Primary Health Care plan.

Ideally, one challenge hindering Universal Access to Healthcare in developing worlds like Ghana, is cost or affordability, although it forms core part of human security and goal ‘3’ of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3).

In order to SDG3, Dr Boamah said Free Primary Health Care is very important and critical because health is integral to national development, adding that with Free Primary Health care, the country will significantly reduce avoidable deaths due to hypertension, strokes, diabetes, kidney disease and many others.

“This significant reduction in the death burden will help improve the quality of lives for those suffering such diseases. In addition, we shall intensify public education on preventable lifestyles that can lead to such diseases,” he added.

He said this at the Weekly Press Briefing of the National Democratic Congress at the Party Headquarters, Adabraka – Accra on October 8, 2020.

Free Primary Health Care, a supposed to be flagship programme of the NDC, he said is expected to cover teachers, health workers, civil and public servants, journalists, students, farmers, fishers, artisans, drivers.

According to him, the starting phrase “free”, means that Ghanaians for that matter will no longer have to postpone the need to see a doctor because they neither have money nor health insurance.

“With Free Primary Health Care, free means free: walk into the health facility and you will receive care,” he emphasised.

He continued that “the next NDC Government is determined to fix the high out of pocket payments. With Free Primary Health Care, nobody – we mean no Ghanaian – will pay a pesewa at any primary health care facility when he or she is attended to.”

The former Communications Minister added that provision of the Free Primary Health Care will not be accomplished without attending needs of health workers, with respect to accommodation, skills upgrading and many others.

By Akutu Dede Adimer