A group photograph of involving NHIA, KOFIH officials
By Bright Philip Donkor
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) have called for more inclusive policy reforms and improved funding strategies to enhance healthcare access, affordability, and outcomes for Ghanaians living with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes and hypertension.
At a dissemination conference held at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge, Accra, the two institutions unveiled findings from a comprehensive national study titled “Exploring Diabetes and Hypertension Among NHIS and Non-NHIS Members in Ghana.” The event, which brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, development partners, civil society actors, and researchers, aimed to highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions in the management of NCDs in Ghana. The programme was under the theme; “Access, Affordability, and Outcomes: Rethinking Diabetes and Hypertension Management in Ghana”.
Rethink approach
Delivering the welcome address, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, called on healthcare stakeholders, development partners, and the public to join forces in rethinking Ghana’s approach to managing chronic non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes.
He emphasised the need for urgent, inclusive reforms in the country’s healthcare financing, service delivery, and preventive strategies to curb the rising burden of chronic illnesses.
Dr. Djokoto highlighted the significance of the NHIA-KOFIH study on diabetes and hypertension among insured and uninsured populations in Ghana. He lauded the study as a timely, evidence-based initiative aimed at reshaping public health interventions for chronic diseases, which he described as “no longer isolated illnesses of the elite,” but rather widespread conditions affecting both urban and rural populations across all socioeconomic strata.
“Since its establishment in 2003, the NHIS has played a central role in Ghana’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage. But today, the landscape is evolving. Our biggest challenge is no longer only communicable diseases but the growing wave of non-communicable diseases, with hypertension and diabetes leading the charge,” he revealed.
The Deputy CEO warned that if not urgently addressed, the rising burden of NCDs could threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s healthcare system. He pointed out that while access to care had improved. especially among NHIS members, serious gaps remain, particularly in affordability, preventive behaviours, and continuity of care. “Many still bear the burden of out-of-pocket payments—costs that, in some cases, determine whether a patient lives or dies,” he lamented.
Bold steps
The Deputy Country Director of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), Ms. Chae Eun Kim, has urged stakeholders in Ghana’s health sector to take bold, evidence-driven steps to address the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. She made the call during her keynote address at the NHIA-KOFIH Dissemination Conference held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
She described the dissemination conference as not just a research event, but a national imperative that goes to the heart of Ghana’s development, economy, and social equity. She commended both the NHIA and KOFIH for their foresight in commissioning the nationwide study on diabetes and hypertension, saying “it had successfully brought data to the frontlines of decision-making and policy design”.
She stressed that the burden of chronic diseases was no longer a silent one, but a loud and unmistakable threat to individuals, households, and the nation’s healthcare system. Drawing attention to both global and local statistics, Ms. Kim noted that millions of people were living with hypertension and diabetes, many of whom were undiagnosed or poorly managed.
Multi-sectoral strategy
Ms. Kim called for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy that was grounded in evidence and driven by urgency. She advocated strengthened primary healthcare systems, including the decentralization of chronic disease care to community-level clinics equipped with diagnostics, medications, and trained personnel. She argued that this would be cost-effective and would improve access, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
She also stressed the need for aggressive public education campaigns focused on prevention through improved nutrition, exercise, and reduction in tobacco and alcohol use. In her view, such campaigns could significantly reduce the national burden of non-communicable diseases. She encouraged the integration of NCD screening and services into existing healthcare platforms such as maternal health clinics, immunization programmes, and school health services to cut costs and expand coverage.
In addition, she urged stakeholders to embrace digital health technologies, including SMS reminders, mobile applications, and telemedicine services, which have shown potential in improving treatment adherence and reducing complications. She underscored the importance of building the capacity of the health workforce and promoting collaborative partnerships across sectors to sustain the fight against chronic diseases.
Commendation
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management at the University of Ghana, Professor Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah, commended the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) for demonstrating leadership and foresight in commissioning the nationwide study on diabetes and hypertension management among insured and uninsured populations in Ghana. According to him, this study has placed data at the forefront of policy design and health system reform, an approach he described as not only commendable but catalytic.
He stressed that the health challenges posed by chronic diseases now transcended the health sector alone, as they had direct implications for economic development, national productivity, and social justice. He observed that diabetes and hypertension were no longer conditions associated with a small section of the population, but had become widespread, loud, and unmistakable threats to individuals, families, and the national healthcare system.
He called for a deliberate effort to translate research findings into clear, measurable policy actions, backed by timelines, performance indicators, and sustainable financing mechanisms. Delays, he warned, would cost lives and undermine Ghana’s development prospects.
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