Government has taken a major step toward the rollout of its free primary healthcare policy, with the procurement of thousands of medical equipment to strengthen service delivery across the country.
More than 24,000 (24,534) pieces of medical equipment have been secured by government to boost healthcare delivery at the primary level.
The equipment, valued at over GH¢500 million, includes baby incubators, radiant warmers, oxygen concentrators, X-ray machines, patient monitors, infusion devices, laboratory analyzers, delivery beds, ultrasound machines, wheelchairs and hospital beds.
During an inspection at the Central Medical Stores at Spintex, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh together with key officials, described the move as a critical investment in retooling public health facilities ahead of the policy rollout.
The intervention is expected to address long-standing gaps in equipment availability, particularly in underserved and rural facilities, where access to basic diagnostic and life-saving tools remains a challenge.
“This investment is part of a broader strategy to ensure that our primary healthcare system is well-equipped to deliver quality, accessible and affordable care to every Ghanaian. The equipment are many. There are radiant warmers, oxygen concentrators, X-ray machines, patient monitors, infusion devices, laboratory analyzers, delivery beds and a lot more.so we came to inspect them before its distributed,.” he said.
The rollout is also expected to improve early detection and treatment of diseases, ultimately reducing complications and preventable deaths.
Government says the equipment will be distributed nationwide to improve access to essential healthcare services and reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary facilities.
He further noted that structures have been put in place to ensure proper maintenance of the equipment.
“As we speak immediately the distribution will start to the regions then to the districts before the president launches the policy in the coming days. We have also put in place measures to ensure proper maintenance of these equipment, so they remain functional and serve communities for the long term,” he said.
Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy is set to launch this month, seeking to provide free essential medical services at CHPS compounds, health centers, and polyclinics, aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
The policy removes financial barriers for all residents, specifically enhancing preventative and curative services at the community level.
