By: Sarah Baafi
Legal practitioner Zakaria Tanko Musah has weighed in on government’s proposed free primary healthcare rollout, following assurances from the Ministry of Health that it is ready to implement the policy.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Mr. Musah welcomed the initiative but stressed that the success of the policy will depend largely on effective execution.
“The real challenge is not policy,it is execution,” he said, noting that Ghana’s healthcare system has often struggled at the implementation stage despite strong policy direction.
He emphasized that primary healthcare must function as the first point of contact for citizens. “Primary healthcare is supposed to be the first point of contact for every citizen,” he stated, adding that access at the community level is critical to reducing pressure on major hospitals.
According to him, gaps in access often lead to delays in treatment and self-medication. “When healthcare is not accessible at the community level, then we are not achieving equity,” he said.
Mr. Musah cautioned that many patients arrive at health facilities only when conditions have worsened. “By the time many patients reach the hospital, conditions have already become complicated,” he noted.
He further urged that rollout plans must ensure nationwide coverage beyond urban centres. “We must ensure that primary healthcare is not concentrated in urban centres alone,” he stressed.
While acknowledging government’s stated readiness, he warned that policy assurance does not automatically translate into full implementation. “Readiness in policy does not always mean readiness in implementation,” he said.
Mr. Musah concluded that a well-functioning primary healthcare system would significantly improve health outcomes and reduce pressure on tertiary facilities, if properly executed and sustained.
