Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, says the government is recruiting 16,000 health professionals to support the implementation of the government Free Primary Health Ca
The report indicates that kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, says the government is recruiting 16,000 health professionals to support the implementation of the government Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) programme towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
It further notes that he stated so far 8,000 health professionals had been recruited and posted to various health facilities across the country, while plans were advanced for the recruitment of additional 8,000 personnel.
Mr Akandoh stated this at Fian in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District at the weekend during a durbar on the FPHC programme, which culminated into the presentation of home-visit kits and motorbikes for the programme.
He expressed happiness that the health professionals were accepting postings to “deprived” areas, including the Upper West region.
“This year, by the grace of God, we have a number of health professionals who have accepted posting to this part of the country.
Last year, by the grace of God, about 20 medical doctors accepted posting to this region (Upper West region), in 2024, we had only two”, the Minister explained.
He attributed that to the government’s directive that health professionals who resumed duty should be processed, mechanised and paid within their first month.
Mr Akandoh added that some 13,500 nurses inherited by the President Mahama-led government had been placed on the payroll and their arrears cleared.
He stated the interventions by the government would ensure that healthcare services were available, accessible, and affordable to all citizens.
He indicated that the FPHC programme would also prioritise prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes.
The Minister stated that 24,000 pieces of basic equipment had been distributed to primary healthcare facilities across the country to support the programme implementation, with an additional 12,000 pieces expected in the coming week.
He added that 5,000 health kits, containing basic equipment for house-to-house visits, had been distributed, with another 5,000 expected to be delivered in the coming week.
Mr Akandoh urged health professionals to deliver quality care as the government was paying for the services.
“The services are free to the ordinary Ghanaian, but the services are not free to government. So, government is paying for the services you are rendering”, he said.
