Next NDC government will provide incentives for local production of hermometers, BP apparatuses, hospital beds and drip stands – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has asserted that if voted into power, his government will provide incentives and encourage investment in local production of medical equipment such as thermometers, BP apparatuses, hospital beds and drip stands.

“My government will establish Central Bed and Emergencies Management Bureaus in all three geographical belts (Southern, Middle, and Northern) to respond to health emergency needs and address referral challenges such as 'no-bed syndrome.

“We will enact a law to govern biomedical transplantation such as kidney transplants to protect the rights of patients, ensure affordability, and ensure local provision of such services.

“We will develop a centralised health information management system to share patient data across hospitals in compliance with the Data Protection Act and license and regulate the private sector to build and operate facilities for home care, chronically ill persons, and end-of-life care services."

The NDC Presidential Candidate, who occupies the 8th position on the presidential ballot paper, stated in the party’s 2024 manifesto, captioned “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability, and Prosperity,” stated on the subtheme “investing in people for inclusive growth.”

Former President Mahama said based on his past experience as an Assemblyman, Member of Parliament, Minister of State, Vice President, and later as President of Ghana, it has shaped his understanding of the problems facing Ghanaians.

“My next government will scale up the telehealth and existing telemedicine projects, including tele-consultation and tele-education to all regions to better connect patients at all levels to health advisory consultation services for timely and effective referrals.

“We will establish a Patient (Client) Protection Council (PPC) that regulates standards and norms for health service delivery and research to protect patients' and practitioners' rights.

“We will support the formation of a Medical Laboratory Council to promote the welfare and professional development of practitioners,” he stated and called for a massive vote to enable him to form the next government in 2025 to implement the laudable policies to reset Ghana once again.

The next government formed under the presidency of Mr. John Dramani Mahama as President and Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Vice President will also support the local production of laboratory diagnostics.

“We will establish a National Laboratory Proficiency Testing Centre, establish one zonal Public Laboratory in the Volta region, and upgrade the four existing zonal laboratories.

“We will upgrade selected district, regional, and other certified private hospitals to specialist teaching institutions to enhance the clinical training of health professionals and establish a College of Allied Health Sciences as a post-graduate professional institute to promote specialist training and continuous professional development for allied health workers.

“We will set up a Council for Allied Health Sciences and initiate plans to set up a School of Biomedical Sciences and Postgraduate Biomedical Research Institute to provide full professional development programmes for all the healthcare areas,” the NDC Election 2024 Presidential Candidate stated.

On the Pharmaceutical Sector Development, former President Mahama said the next NDC government will collaborate with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to implement the Ghana Pharmaceutical Sector Strategic Plan.

His next government, formed in 2025, will also initiate the establishment of a National Bio-Equivalence Centre and a Pharmaceutical Research Institute and provide support to local pharmaceutical companies to expand the production of pharmaceuticals, including essential medicines and vaccines, as part of the 24-hour economy initiatives to reduce dependence on imports.

“We will promote the integration of pharmaceutical manufacturing programmes into relevant tertiary education curricula and provide support to local pharmaceutical companies as was initiated in 2015 to expand production of pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, within the 24-hour economy programme.

“We will support the Pharmaceuticals Society of Ghana with incentives to make Ghana a Pharma Hub in Africa,” he stated and called on the electorates to vote for him massively and all NDC Parliamentary Candidates to form the next government to implement the policies to reduce the unnecessary burden imposed on Ghanaians by the current government.

Meanwhile, former President Mahama has reiterated that his next government will set up the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund to support the cost of care for persons with chronic diseases such as kidney failure (dialysis), cancers, and heart diseases.

“We will explore innovative and alternative ways of funding the health sector and prioritize efficient allocation to priority sub-sectors to achieve 21st-century health financing.

“We will de-collateralize the National Health Insurance Levy and ensure that the total revenue accrued to the NHIS levy is set aside for only health-related purposes.

“My next government will introduce a fund retention system at the CHPS level to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour service delivery at the sub-district level,” he stated.

He said his next government will remove taxes and tariffs on vaccine and medical donations to public health facilities.

“My government will introduce a franchising policy for private health services such as laboratory, dental, eye, and pharmaceutical services to operate within public hospitals, based on best practice models," he stated.

Mr. Mahama therefore called on the electorates to vote massively for him as President and all NDC Parliamentary Candidates across the country to form the next government.