Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, on Tuesday urged health workers to remain professional and more compassionate towards clients for the nation to derive the optimum benefit from the Free Primary Healthcare programme (FPHC).

He said the successful implementation of the programme largely depended on health professionals, urging them to be more sensitive to the plight of clients and provide them with quality healthcare services.

By doing so, the minister said he was highly confident that the FPHC programme would achieve its intended purpose and would position the nation well to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

President John Dramani Mahama launched the FPHC in April this year and described the programme as a critical pillar in the nation’s journey towards UHC.

The implementation of the programme, among other objectives, aims to bridge the gaps left by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in expanding access to healthcare service delivery in rural and underserved communities.

Speaking at the Bono Regional launch of the FPHC programme in Sunyani, Mr Akwaboa reaffirmed the government’s dedication to creating access to equitable healthcare service delivery for the people, regardless of their social and economic status.

The event, attended by health personnel, including municipal and district directors of health, as well as key stakeholders in the health sector, was held on the theme: “Free Primary Healthcare: Removing the Financial Barriers Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage”.

Mr Akwaboa noted that a healthy population remained essential for advancing socio-economic growth and sustainable development, yet many farmers and vulnerable people continued to experience financial barriers in accessing quality healthcare.

He said the FPHC, therefore, sought to remove financial barriers, bring quality healthcare closer to the people, and ensure that essential health services were easily accessible, especially to vulnerable populations.

Mr Akwaboa noted that the implementation of the programme in the region was a significant boost to access to quality healthcare service delivery across urban and rural communities.

He said sustained collaboration was required among stakeholders, including chiefs and queens, community members, and local authorities, for the programme to achieve meaningful health outcomes.

Mr Akwaboa urged community members to take advantage of the programme and seek healthcare services early to improve their health status.

“In fact, the government is dedicated to ensuring that every household is not left out in achieving UHC,” he said, urging health workers to remain committed to the implementation of the programme.

In a highlight, Dr Abdulai Abukari, the Bono Regional Director of Health, said that the FPHC was being implemented in Banda, Dormaa West, Jaman North, and Tain districts, as well as the Jaman South Municipality in the region.

He emphasised that the FPHC programme demonstrated the government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing access to quality healthcare service delivery in the country.

Dr Abukari said the region had fully prepared health workers and strengthened systems for the programme to reach the people and enable them to derive optimum benefits.

He said the region remained dedicated to operating a people-centred healthcare system to promote disease control, family planning, and immunisation, assuring that the programme would benefit every Ghanaian, regardless of financial status or social class.