Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has charged District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) to take ownership of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy and ensure its effective implementation at the district and community levels.
According to the Minister, the success of the policy will depend largely on the ability of health professionals on the ground to translate government’s plans into actual healthcare services for communities.
Speaking at the 33rd Annual Conference of the District Directors of Health Services Group Ghana, Mr Akandoh stressed that policy documents, projects and press conferences alone could not deliver healthcare to Ghanaians.
“Policy documents will not check blood pressure,” he said, urging district health directors to see themselves as the key drivers of the policy at the community level.
He described the directors as the “soldiers on the ground” and tasked them to understand the FPHC policy thoroughly and communicate its objectives effectively to health workers and community members.
The conference, held under the theme, “From Policy to Practice: The DDHS Driving Free Primary Health Care in Ghana,” focused on strengthening district-level leadership and ownership to ensure the policy delivers accessible, quality and equitable healthcare.
Mr Akandoh explained that the Free Primary Healthcare policy is intended to complement the National Health Insurance Scheme by strengthening preventive, promotive and curative healthcare services at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres and polyclinics.
He emphasised the importance of district-level leadership in ensuring that the policy moves beyond government plans and becomes a practical intervention that improves healthcare access for people across the country.
The Minister therefore urged District Directors of Health Services to take full responsibility for implementation and ensure that communities experience the intended benefits of the Free Primary Healthcare policy.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Mavis Fantevi
