Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is campaigning as the Presidential Candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), outlines a comprehensive health sector agenda for Ghana if he is re-elected in 2025. His proposals focus on enhancing the local production of medical equipment, establishing emergency management structures, and ensuring better health service delivery through innovative healthcare policies. He has promised to incentivize investments in local manufacturing of essential medical devices such as thermometers, blood pressure apparatus, hospital beds, and drip stands to reduce reliance on imports. Moreover, Mahama aims to tackle the ongoing challenges in healthcare, such as the infamous “no-bed syndrome,” by creating Central Bed and Emergencies Management Bureaus in all geographical regions of Ghana.
Acknowledging his extensive experience in public service roles, Mahama stresses that his prior positions have equipped him to understand the diverse health issues facing Ghanaians. He plans to implement a centralized health information management system that would ensure patient data is efficiently shared across hospitals while adhering to the Data Protection Act. Furthermore, Mahama has highlighted his intention to create a regulatory framework for biomedical transplantation, safeguarding patients’ rights and affordability. His government would also establish a Patient Protection Council to oversee health service standards and protect both patients and practitioners, alongside measures to support medical professionals through the creation of a Medical Laboratory Council.
Mahama’s manifesto includes ambitious goals to bolster local production capabilities in the health sector. He proposes the establishment of a National Laboratory Proficiency Testing Centre along with upgraded public laboratories, aimed at enhancing clinical training for health professionals. He also envisions the formation of a College of Allied Health Sciences to provide continuous professional development for allied health workers. By upgrading selected hospitals to become specialist teaching institutions, Mahama intends to improve the overall training and expertise of healthcare providers in Ghana, thereby contributing to a more robust healthcare system.
In addressing the pharmaceutical sector, Mahama plans to support local companies by expanding their production capabilities of essential medications and vaccines. He aims to collaborate with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to implement a strategic plan that fosters local pharmaceutical manufacturing. By creating a National Bio-Equivalence Centre and a Pharmaceutical Research Institute, the government under Mahama would prioritize reducing import dependency while promoting a thriving pharmaceutical industry within Ghana. He believes these initiatives can position Ghana as a key player, or “Pharma Hub,” in Africa.
Moreover, Mahama has outlined a funding strategy for healthcare by proposing the establishment of the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund to alleviate financial burdens associated with chronic diseases. His strategy involves innovative health financing methods while ensuring that protections are offered for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) revenue to guarantee its dedicated use for health-related purposes. To bolster the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare delivery, he is promoting a franchising model for private sector health services to be integrated within public health institutions while advocating the removal of taxes on medical donations to health facilities.
Mahama has called on voters to support the NDC in the upcoming elections to enable the implementation of these proposed policies aimed at transforming Ghana’s healthcare landscape. By laying out an extensive vision for improvements and support mechanisms within the health sector, he seeks to emphasize accountability, local production, and inclusive growth. His confidence in electoral success relies on the perception that his government can reset Ghana by prioritizing health, improving service delivery through systematic reforms, and fostering a sustainable healthcare environment.
