Ghana Healthcare System

ghana is dividied into ___ administrative regions and ____ districts

10; 216

national level

develops overall policy and strategy

regional level

translates national policy into regional strategies, bridging the national-district gap

district level

responsible fro policy implementation including healthcare delivery, with district assemblies playing a key role in sustaining multi sectoral responses

ghana economy

Classified as lower, middle income

ghanas economy driven by

natural resources, sound management, business (competitve)

agriculture GDP

25%

services GDP

50%

key exports

gold, cocoa, recently oil

ghanas economy challenges

budget deficits, depreciating currency, and poverty alleviation efforts following years of looser fiscal policies

population

26.9 million with a near equal gender split

life expectancy

64 for males and 69 for females

what remains a challenge, especially in rural areas where over half the population resides

literacy rates

business language, predominant religion

english, christianity

healthcare delivery model

Structured in a tiered system that operates on the national, regional, district, and sub-district levels

national healthcare delivery model

manages top-level policy and large facilities

regional healthcare delivery model

provides specialized services and coordinates regional care

district/subdistrict

primary healthcare is delivered with limited resources with an emphasis on community health

does ghana have universal healthcare

NO- not FULL universal healthcare

has made significant strides to make healthcare more affordable throguh

NHIS (national health insurance scheme) 2003

NHIS

provides subsidized access to a broad range of health services and is a step towards universal healthcare

can all Ghanians be insured under NHIS

no, enrollment is not automatic

who can be covered by NHIS

• Vulnerable groups like children under 18, elderly (70+), pregnant women, and indigent are covered without premium payments 

• Working individuals pay premiums based on income level, but informal sector workers (a large portion of the population) often struggle with enrollment costs 

private sector access

Those who can afford it may choose private healthcare, which offers higher-quality services and faster access, but at a much higher cost

costs and financing

Central government, NGOs, global funds, and private donors contribute to funding

do other economic policies from institutions help assist

yes, but creates a complex dependency on international support

is access equal across everyoen

no, remains unequal with rural areas significantly underserved

how is quality of care impacted

disparities in workforce distribution, infrastructure inadequacies, and limited equipment, all affecting overall health outcomes

increase domestic healthcare ______ to reduce aid dependency

funding

improve workforce training and _____ rural placement

incentivize

_______ NHIS to cover a ____ range of services and streamline reimbursement processes

strengthen; wider

invest in ____ and ___ ____ _____ to reach underserved areas

telemedicine, mobile health services

_____ infrastructure, especially in rural and peri-urban areas

enhance

there are inequities in the _____ and ____ mix of healthcare workers with rural areas facing the most severe shortages

distribution and skills

high burden of _____, ______ _____, and ____ ______ pose significant barriers to public health

malaria, poor sanitation, and limited resources

can cultural and religious beliefs conflict with public health practices impacting health education and prevention?

yes

major public health challenges facing Ghana

• High burden of communicable diseases (malaria, AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis) 

• Emerging non-communicable diseases due to lifestyle shifts (diabetes/ hypertension) 

• Maternal and child health issues especially in rural areas 

• Limited mental health services and public health awareness 

• Inadequate funding leading to reliance on donor support for key health programs

what does the system struggle with

low preparedness for epidemic management and limited infrastructure, challenging health planners and policymakers

Emerging issues such as early marriage and other cultural practices further exacerbate health disparities