As part of the official launch of the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) initiative, President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned a comprehensive package of medical equipment, tricycles, motorbikes and community health infrastructure to enhance service delivery across the country.

The commissioning, which formed a key highlight of the launch event, demonstrstes Government’s commitment to ensuring that essential services are accessible to all, particularly at the community level.

Central to the deployment is a wide array of modern medical equipment to be distributed to health facilities for diagnostics, treatment, and emergency response.

These include patient monitors, ECG machines, ultrasound scanners, defibrillators, and vital signs monitors to support clinical care. Facilities are also being equipped with oxygen concentrators, suction machines, CPAP machines, and infusion pumps to improve the management of critically ill patients.

In the area of maternal and child health, the implementing facilities will receive delivery beds, digital fetal dopplers, cardiotocograph machines, infant incubators, radiant warmers, and phototherapy units. These are expected to significantly improve antenatal, delivery, and neonatal care outcomes across the primary levels of service delivery.

Laboratory and diagnostic services are also being strengthened with the provision of microscopes, centrifuges, bilirubin meters, and other essential equipment, while imaging capacity is being expanded through the deployment of mobile X-ray machines and digital X-ray film printers.

To ensure that these services reach the last mile, the President also commissioned a fleet of motorbikes and tricycles to support mobility and outreach activities. These vehicles are expected to play a critical role in facilitating home visits, emergency referrals, community engagement, and supervision, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.

In a further boost to community-level service delivery, the first of newly assembled health posts (medical kiosk) was also commissioned to expand the physical footprint of primary healthcare.

These facilities are designed to bring essential services closer to communities, reduce travel time for patients, and decongest higher-level facilities.

Additionally, the package includes hospital beds, wheelchairs, examination couches, autoclaves, and a range of support equipment such as instrument and dressing trolleys to improve efficiency, infection prevention, and patient comfort within facilities.

Speaking at the event, President Mahama noted that the commissioning of the equipment and health posts represents a significant step towards transforming primary healthcare delivery in Ghana.

He emphasised that the FPHC initiative, aside from being free, will but also ensure that the system is adequately resourced to deliver quality care.

The Service and CHAG, as main beneficiaries of the equipment, reiterated their readiness to ensure the effective distribution, utilisation, and maintenance of the commissioned assets.

The integrated deployment of equipment, transport logistics, and infrastructure will position the country to make significant progress towards Universal Health Coverage and improved health outcomes for all.