President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that a cardiothoracic centre is currently under construction at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, marking the first specialised heart treatment facility in the northern regions.

Speakinh ath the citizen engagement as part of his #Resetting Ghana Tour, the president said the centre will provide advanced care for heart-related conditions and significantly reduce the need for patients to travel to southern Ghana for treatment.

On healthcare delivery, President Mahama outlined the government’s free primary healthcare initiative, which is designed to complement the National Health Insurance Scheme and expand access to essential services.

He explained that the programme is structured around three key components: curative, preventive, and educational care.

Under the curative component, citizens will receive free treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, cholera, diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases upon presentation of a valid national identification card, without the need for NHIS membership.

The preventive aspect will see trained health volunteers conducting household visits to monitor vital health indicators and detect potential disease outbreaks early, while the educational component will focus on promoting healthy lifestyles, including proper nutrition and regular physical activity.

President Mahama added that Community-based Health Planning and Services compounds and polyclinics will be equipped with essential diagnostic tools to improve service delivery at the community level. Health volunteers will also be supported with motorbikes and tricycles to enhance mobility, particularly in emergency situations.

He further disclosed that plans are underway to establish an oncology centre in Tamale to address the increasing incidence of cancers, including breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, as part of a broader strategy to expand specialised healthcare services across the country.