A primary health care (PHC) strategy was adopted in Ghana in 1978, but the civilian government at the time failed to implement the program designed to achieve health for all Ghanaians. In 1982, the revolutionary military government under Rawlings indicated its commitment to the full implementation of the PHC program. In this article, the author seeks to examine the extent to which the Economic Recovery Program initiated by the Rawlings' regime, its policy of decentralization and mobilization of the masses, and its promise to institute some fundamental organizational and structural changes in the health care delivery system, are contributing to the process of achieving "health for all" Ghanaians.
PIP: The extent to which the Economic Recovery Program contributes to the process of achieving "health for all" Ghanians by the year 2000 is examined. In 1982, the military government committed itself to the full implementation of the Primary Health Care (PHC) program in Ghana. To mobilize masses of people, the Rawling's government established Workers and People's Defense Committees. Clean-up campaigns were organized by these committees. However, the past 3 years have seen little of these campaigns. The government intends to create District Assemblies to provide the means to facilitate the mobilization of local resources, the participation of local people in health-related activities, and the functioning of PHC. The Rawling's government launched its Economic Recovery Program (ERP) in January, 1983. The 1st stage of the ERP aimed at lowering the inflation rate, increasing food and raw material production, and improving the distribution of goods, services and income. The government has begun a radical change in foreign exchange policy. There is reason to fear for the health of Ghanians, especially the children. User fees have been introduced for all public health care facilities, thus reducing the accessibility of public health care services for the low income population. Rawling's health policy is designed to emphasize the need for change in the country's health care delivery system to support the PHC program. The general framework of the PHC program in Ghana is based on a 3-tier health care system. Several problems contribute to the failure of the successful implementation of PHC, resulting in poor health conditions in Ghana.