DBI MP Dr. Sandaare Kicks Off Specialist Surgeries at Issa Polyclinic; Sets Sights on District Hospital Status

On Monday, April 13, 2026, Dr Sebastian Sandaare, the Member of Parliament for the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI) constituency, marked a significant milestone for healthcare in the district as surgeries officially commenced at the Issa Polyclinic.
The initiative, organised in collaboration with the MP and the Ghana Health Service, follows a massive district-wide screening exercise conducted last month. That screening identified over two hundred and thirty-three residents with surgical and eye conditions who, due to financial constraints or the long distance to regional hospitals, had previously been unable to seek treatment.
Currently, the DBI district operates with only one resident medical doctor. To bridge this gap, Dr Sandaare, a medical doctor himself, headhunted a team of specialist surgeons and emergency nurses to perform the procedures locally.
“We have brought specialist surgeons here to help our needy relatives who have medical or surgical challenges but are often stuck in their houses until these conditions become complicated because of distance and access issues,” Dr. Sandaare stated during a meeting with the facility’s staff.
The outreach has already seen the successful completion of the first batch of eye surgeries. General surgical operations are currently done at the Issa Polyclinic and will continue in phases at no cost to the patients.
Beyond the immediate surgeries, Dr Sandaare is leveraging the outreach to push for a permanent upgrade of the Issa Polyclinic to a full-fledged District Hospital. To facilitate this transition, the MP donated a consignment of essential drugs and medical equipment to the facility. He also announced the donation of a GeneXpert machine and other diagnostic tools to enhance the clinic's testing capabilities.
Dr Sandaare noted that achieving "District Hospital" status requires meeting stringent benchmarks set by the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA), particularly in infrastructure and human resources.
“This isn't just about performing surgeries; it is about the transfer of knowledge,” the MP explained. “Before these specialists leave, they will have transferred critical skills to the local staff here to ensure sustainable healthcare delivery long after the outreach ends.”
During his address, the MP also touched on broader health policy, highlighting the "Free Primary Health Care" initiative proposed by President John Dramani Mahama. He explained that the policy aims to make services at CHPS compounds and polyclinics free for all Ghanaians, removing the barrier of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card for basic services.
Regarding the NHIS, Dr Sandaare encouraged service providers to submit claims promptly to ensure the scheme's sustainability, emphasising that the focus must remain on the patient's well-being.
He took a moment to visit the Health Insurance Office in the area to interact with the staff and assured them of his continued support to take health delivery in the district very seriously.
The MP concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the fair distribution of resources across the DBI constituency, ensuring that no resident is left behind in the pursuit of quality healthcare.