Suhum Member of Parliament (MP), Frank Asiedu Bekoe, has called for more investment in preventive healthcare and improved utilisation of healthcare funds to make quality medical services more accessible and affordable to ordinary Ghanaians.
He made the call at the African Health Policy Alliance Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, where he shared his perspectives on the need to ensure that healthcare spending translates into tangible benefits for citizens.
The summit, held on Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30, 2026, was under the theme, “Preventive Care: National Healthcare System Sustainability and the Role of Preventive Care in Africa.”
The MP, who serves on Parliament’s Budget Committee, said the responsibility of policymakers should extend beyond approving funds for the health sector to ensuring that the resources are effectively utilised to improve healthcare delivery.
According to him, greater attention must be paid to whether allocated funds reach hospitals and health centres, essential medicines are readily available, and citizens have access to preventive healthcare services before illnesses become severe.
He emphasised that preventive healthcare often takes place outside traditional health facilities, noting that measures such as accident prevention, wearing helmets and seatbelts, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and participating in regular health walks are all essential components of preventive healthcare.
He further highlighted the importance of making blood pressure (BP) and diabetes testing kits readily available to citizens outside health facilities, describing such access as a worthwhile investment in preventive healthcare.
“Preventive healthcare is an investment,” he stated.
Mr. Bekoe observed that the cost of healthcare remains a significant financial burden for many Ghanaian households, making it necessary for the country to strengthen preventive measures and expand access to basic healthcare.
He stressed the importance of early disease detection and timely medical intervention, noting that these measures could help prevent health conditions from becoming more serious and costly to treat.
The Suhum MP further argued that investing in preventive healthcare should not be viewed solely as a public health priority but also as a strategy for protecting household incomes, improving productivity and supporting the country’s long-term development.
He maintained that effective preventive healthcare policies could help reduce avoidable medical expenses while enabling more people to remain healthy and productive.
Mr. Bekoe emphasised that healthcare expenditure must be assessed based on its impact on the lives of ordinary citizens, insisting that public funds should deliver meaningful improvements in access to quality medical services.
“Ultimately, every cedi spent on healthcare must make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve,” he stated.
His remarks highlight the importance of accountability in healthcare financing, efficient allocation of resources and sustained investment in preventive services as Ghana seeks to improve health outcomes and reduce the financial pressures associated with medical treatment.
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