By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, July 23, GNA – Senior health officials have called for stronger administrative and support systems to ensure the successful implementation of Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) Policy.
They said effective planning, logistics, infrastructure, maintenance and administrative support were essential to delivering efficient, safe and patient-centred healthcare services under the policy.
The officials made the call at the opening of the two-day 2026 Health Administration and Support Services (HASS) Conference and Technical Meeting on Global Fund Investments.
It was held under the theme: “Strengthening Support Services for Effective Implementation of Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare Policy.”
Professor Fred Newton Binka, Council Chairman, Ghana Health Service (GHS), said although health administrators and support staff often worked behind the scenes, they remained indispensable to quality healthcare delivery.
He urged health managers to address operational challenges, including inadequate facility signage, poor staff welfare, the absence of staff clinics, insufficient office space, poor sanitation and the lack of canteens in many health facilities.
Prof. Binka also advocated transforming hospitals into wellness centres that promote preventive healthcare through health education, routine screening and counselling.
“We must change the way we think about healthcare. Hospitals should not only be places people visit when they are sick, but places communities can come to stay healthy,” he said.
Prof. Binka called for stricter infection prevention measures, urging health workers to stop wearing clinical uniforms outside health facilities to minimise the risk of spreading infections.
He also urged health administrators to ensure all health facilities maintained valid regulatory certification to help reduce medical malpractice cases.
Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General, GHS, said strong administrative and support systems were indispensable to effective healthcare delivery.
He said although doctors, nurses and other frontline professionals remained central to healthcare services, the Free Primary Healthcare Policy could only be effectively implemented with reliable transport, functional equipment, efficient information management systems, sound financial management, well-maintained infrastructure and safe working environments.
Dr Akoriyea said Global Fund investments in oxygen plants, liquid oxygen infrastructure, modular generators and waste treatment facilities had strengthened the country’s healthcare capacity.
“Our priority now is to ensure these investments are effectively managed, properly maintained and sustained for the long term,” he said.
Dr Akoriyea urged participants to use the conference to exchange ideas, review existing systems and develop practical solutions to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
Dr Ebo Hammond, Director of Health Administration and Support Services, said HASS served as the administrative and operational backbone of the Ghana Health Service through its leadership in infrastructure management, transport, clinical engineering, estate management and general administration.
He said the conference was expected to establish a coordinated framework to sustain Global Fund investments while strengthening support systems to meet the operational requirements of the Free Primary Healthcare Policy.
Expected outcomes include stronger leadership commitment to systems readiness, improved administrative reforms, practical recommendations to strengthen support services, enhanced collaboration among stakeholders and a strategic action agenda to support implementation of the policy.
Participants are also expected to identify innovative approaches to improve service delivery and advance Ghana’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira LarbieÂ
[email protected]Â