In a bid to enhance healthcare delivery in Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming 2024 elections, has unveiled a comprehensive plan focused on localizing health services, education, and research. Mr. Mahama emphasized the importance of completing existing Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and constructing additional ones to ensure quality primary health care (PHC) is accessible to both rural and urban populations. His manifesto, titled “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability, and Prosperity,” outlines a vision of investing in people for inclusive growth, which includes making primary healthcare universally available and free for all Ghanaians at various healthcare facilities.
The proposed healthcare reforms include establishing clinics in market and transport stations to cater to the health needs of traders, passengers, drivers, and the broader public. Mr. Mahama also aims to reinforce the healthcare system at the sub-district level by enhancing health centers and CHPS operations. This initiative entails scaling up social accountability measures and upgrading school sickbays into well-managed satellite clinics within boarding schools, thus ensuring students and teachers receive quality healthcare. Furthermore, the former president plans to reintroduce mobile medical and dental services, known as “Onuador” and “Onipa Nua,” to deliver specialized care to rural and underserved communities, addressing the geographic barriers that affect access to vital health services.
To bolster healthcare delivery, Mr. Mahama’s administration will collaborate with the private sector to establish licensed medical bureaus linked to medical facilities. This initiative aims to facilitate swift access to medical information and services while ensuring patients have informed access to specialist care. Additionally, the government will create a regulatory framework to facilitate the establishment of pharmacies that incorporate licensed clinics, thereby enhancing community access to primary health care. Emphasizing the importance of health workers in this plan, Mahama aims to implement strategies focused on their motivation, professional growth, and ethical migration to combat the challenges posed by ‘brain drain’ in the health sector.
The NDC government under Mahama’s leadership will prioritize health workers’ professional development, introducing a health worker development scheme that ensures continuous professional growth and support. Plans to offer “Risk Exposure Insurance” for health professionals will provide financial backing for those encountering occupational hazards. The government will also reintroduce a vehicle tax waiver scheme, offer scholarships for nursing tutors pursuing advanced education, and expand access to nursing training institutions. Furthermore, to encourage professionals to accept postings in rural and underserved areas, the government will provide incentives and ensure the early recruitment and deployment of health personnel.
Addressing mental health, Mr. Mahama asserted that the next NDC government would take significant steps to increase access to mental health services and reduce related complications. This will involve integrating mental health into primary healthcare, establishing a mental health hospital in the northern sector, refurbishing existing facilities, and enhancing the capacity of psychiatric hospitals in Accra and Pantang. The proposed review of the Mental Health Authority Law aims to expand the recruitment and retention of Community Mental Health Officers (CMHOs) and establish hotlines for accessing mental healthcare services and e-counseling.
Moreover, Mr. Mahama emphasized the need for research and development in the domains of herbal and traditional medicine, proposing that more public universities set up herbal medicine research departments to foster innovation. He concluded by urging Ghanaians to rally behind him and the NDC parliamentary candidates to form a government committed to transforming healthcare in the nation comprehensively. This strategic approach is aimed at creating a more inclusive health system that effectively meets the needs of all citizens, resulting in improved health outcomes and national prosperity.
