The National Ambulance Service (NAS) in the Upper East Region joined key healthcare stakeholders at the official launch of the Government of Ghana's Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) Programme, held at the Ghana Health Service In-Service Training Health Centre in Bolgatanga.
The event marked a significant step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, with the initiative designed to ease the financial burden that has long prevented many residents from accessing timely medical care.
The launch brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the National Ambulance Service, and staff and students from various health institutions across the region.
Fourteen out of fifteen districts in the Upper East Region have been selected for the first phase of the rollout.The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Braima Abubakar, noted that the Upper East and Northern regions each received the highest number of beneficiary districts under the first phase — fourteen apiece — reflecting the government's deliberate effort to address longstanding disparities in healthcare access across northern Ghana.
Dr. Abubakar further disclosed that the initiative will see eleven market health centres across the region upgraded and equipped with modern medical equipment, bringing their service delivery capacity in line with that of established health facilities. He confirmed that medical equipment, logistics, and other essential supplies have already been delivered to all beneficiary districts, positioning the programme for an immediate rollout.
The Regional Director emphasised that the programme is fundamentally about bringing healthcare closer to the people — particularly traders, farmers, and residents in underserved communities — reducing delays in accessing treatment and ultimately improving health outcomes across the region.
