Story By: Bridget Mensah
My journey with healthcare began with a simple dizzy spell and headache at work. Little did I know, it would lead me down a path of financial devastation. After a three-day hospital stay and numerous tests, I was diagnosed with sepsis and prescribed a cocktail of antibiotics and other drugs.
But my health struggles didn’t end there. I returned to the hospital two days later with difficulty breathing, severe chest pains, and edema in one leg. The bills started piling up – oxygen therapy, drugs like Xarelto and sildenafil, and a slew of tests including a CTPA and Holter ECG. Each test yielded no conclusive results, but the costs added up.
The expenses were staggering – Ghc 2400 for the CTPA, Ghc 5000 for each hospital admission (and I was in and out five times), and Ghc 250 for each specialist consultation. And let’s not forget the medications – some so expensive I couldn’t even use them all.
The harsh reality is that healthcare in Ghana is unaffordable for the average person. National Health Insurance often falls short, leaving patients to foot the bill. During my mom’s cancer battle, the insurance card only covered consultation fees, and even then, it was limited to once a day. I had to top up with cash at times.
But there is hope. To make healthcare more affordable and accessible to Ghanaians, we need:
- Improved National Health Insurance coverage – expand services and increase funding.
- Public-Private Partnerships – collaborate with private healthcare providers to reduce costs.
- Subsidies for essential medications – make life-saving drugs more affordable.
- Investment in preventive care – focus on early detection and treatment to reduce costly complications.
- Transparency in billing and pricing – clear and concise information for patients.
- Financial assistance programs – support for those who cannot afford care.
- Healthcare education and awareness – empower patients to make informed decisions.
- Government initiatives – implement policies and programs addressing healthcare affordability.
Let’s work together to find solutions and break the cycle of financial devastation in healthcare. Every Ghanaian deserves quality, affordable care.