By Philip Tengzu
Fian, (UW/R), Sept. 12, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama says the Free Primary Health Care programme (FPHC) being implemented by the government is not a replacement for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He said the programme was designed to complement the NHIS by providing free basic healthcare services at the primary level – CHPS compounds, Health Kiosks, Health Centres and Polyclinics.
However, an active NHIS card was still required to access free healthcare services at the district, regional, and teaching hospitals.
President Mahama said this at Fian in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District at the weekend during a durbar on the implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare programme.
The President also presented the FPHC kits and other logistics, including motorbikes, to the DBI Health Directorate during the durbar to support health workers in reaching communities.
“When we say free primary health care, and that you don’t have to pay anything, and it’s free, you don’t need an (NHIS) ID, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t also register for the NHIS.
“If you go to the free primary health care facility and they diagnose you, and your treatment is bigger than they can handle, they will refer you to the district hospital.
“Now, when you get to the district hospital, you need your NHIS card to be able to access health care”, President Mahama explained.
The President said the FPHC programme was introduced to address gaps in access to healthcare, particularly among people living in underserved communities who faced difficulties travelling long distances to health facilities.
He said Ghana had achieved about 75 per cent universal health coverage (UHC) under the NHIS, and expressed optimism that by 2028, the country would attain UHC status through the FPHC programme.
President Mahama stressed the need for the government to take healthcare services to the doorsteps of people who, for some reason, could not access the services at the facility to help achieve UHC.
The President said so far 135 districts had been covered under the first phase of the programme, which targeted 150 of the most deprived districts in Ghana.
He indicated that the remaining 15 districts would be onboarded by the end of the year, to extend free primary healthcare to all 261 districts by the end of 2028.
He urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the screening services under the programme and get screened at least once a year for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
The President also announced that the government was introducing health kiosks in areas where many people conduct business, including lorry stations, to provide basic healthcare and screening services.
President Mahama said the health kiosks would be digitally connected to district hospitals to enable health workers to consult doctors remotely when they encountered cases beyond their capacity.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Philip Tengzu, GNA