Nana Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee and MP for Effiduase/Asokore, has asserted that the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative is a repackaged version of a policy introduced by the previous administration.
Speaking on Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM, he stated that the concept dates back to August 2, 2024, when a free annual healthcare initiative was launched under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to him, the current programme largely relies on existing frameworks and guidelines developed by the former New Patriotic Party administration, and therefore, proper credit should have been given.
He further noted that international partners, including USAID and other programmes, had been supporting preventive healthcare initiatives with millions of dollars annually.
Mr. Afriyie also stressed that the successful implementation of free primary healthcare depends heavily on adequate infrastructure, particularly hospitals under the Agenda 111 project. He urged the government to sustain investment in health facilities, especially in underserved communities.
“I don’t wish to politicize this issue, but it’s important to note that free primary healthcare cannot be effectively implemented without Agenda 111, which aims to establish new hospitals,” he said.
He added, “There should be an effort to build at least some hospitals each year. While Agenda 111 may have initially seemed overly ambitious, over the past ten years, we have seen the development of new district hospitals in areas that need them. This effort should be prioritised and pursued diligently.”
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