Overview
Ghana projected to spend over 17.8 billion Ghana cedis on health in 2025, a 13.4% nominal increase over 2024. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is expected to receive GH₵9.93 billion for healthcare financing, aimed at improving medical access. This includes funding from the uncapped National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL).
In terms of health infrastructure, the country has over 91 public hospitals and over 200 private hospitals. There are about 4,300 doctors and 68,000 nurses in the country. The country’s projected market size for health insurance is about $16.5 million and the market size for laboratories, imaging, radiology and pathology services is about $15 million. The pharmaceutical market size is about $438 million and the medical device market size is about $89 million. Forecasts are that Ghana’s medical device market will reach $111 million by 2026.
The major players in the medical device sector in Ghana include Becton Dickinson (BD), GE Healthcare, Mindray, Canon, Johnson & Johnson, Philips, Medtronic, etc. Technology has been the driving force behind Ghana’s healthcare development and delivery. A US-EXIM facility retooled the country’s premier hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in 2010. Subsequently, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital, was also built using US-EXIM financing. Zipline, an American drone delivery company, has deployed drone services to deliver vital medical supplies and consumables to remote parts of the country. The introduction of the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform (e-pharmacy), among other innovations, has advanced the delivery of healthcare in the country.
Ghana’s primary healthcare system is the foundational level and serves as the entry point into the overall healthcare system. It includes health posts, clinics, and health centers, which primarily provide essential healthcare services such as immunization, malaria treatment, antenatal care, and infant and young child feeding. The secondary level of healthcare is comprised of services provided by specialists. Providers in the primary healthcare segment typically refer patients to this level for cases that require more specialized care, such as cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) services, and general surgery. Tertiary healthcare involves higher levels of specialized care, often requiring inpatient services, specialized equipment, and expertise. This level includes advanced procedures such as kidney dialysis, neurosurgery, cardiology and cardiac surgery interventions, assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF, and cancer care.
The Government of Ghana continues to expand access to healthcare coverage and the scope of benefits it makes available to its citizens. Ghana’s 2021 census results reported 69% of the population was covered by either the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) or private health insurance schemes. There is a higher rate of health insurance coverage for females (73%) than males (65%). Health insurance coverage ranges from a low of 52% in the Oti Region to a high of 86% in the Upper East Region. The National Health Insurance Scheme provides coverage for a limited scope of health issues, primarily insuring for treatment against the most prevalent diseases, such as malaria. For more information about health insurance coverage in Ghana, please see our Market Intelligence.
The healthcare sector in Ghana is organized at three different levels: national, regional, and district. Health interventions are packaged for each level and are delivered to the respective clinics and hospitals.
Healthcare is variable throughout Ghana. Urban centers are well served, and are where most hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the country can be found. Rural areas often have no modern healthcare services. Patients in these areas either rely on traditional African medicine or travel great distances for healthcare. Most healthcare is provided by the government and is largely administered by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Services. The healthcare system has five levels of providers: 1) health posts, the first level of primary care in rural areas; 2) health centers and clinics; 3) district hospitals; 4) regional hospitals; and 5) tertiary hospitals.
Ghana spends on average about 6% of its GDP on healthcare infrastructure. The COVID 19 pandemic exposed large gaps in the health sector, including the need to construct more district-level hospitals.
Sub-Sector Best Prospects
Ghana has very limited local production of pharmaceuticals and even less manufacturing of medical equipment and devices. The country relies on imports for approximately 85% of its total healthcare consumption.
Private health facilities complement the public sector. Ghana has sought to introduce more private-sector participation into the healthcare sector. The most dynamic growth and most exciting opportunities will be found in privately funded hospitals and clinics and in the non-state-controlled portion of the pharmaceutical sector. Clients value the quality and convenience of private facilities. There is a growing middle class that prefers to use private health facilities and can afford the expense.
Below are areas of potential commercial opportunity:
- Construction of hospitals and clinics
- Diagnostic and laboratory facilities and referrals (histopathology)
- Drug procurement and pharmaceutical supplies management
- Medical equipment
- Digital hospital equipment
- ICT hospital management
- Hospital waste management
- Diagnostic imaging and digital imaging
- Advanced laboratory equipment
- Advanced life support and monitoring systems
- Emergency response and ambulance services
- Rehabilitation and physiotherapy
Other opportunities meriting further exploration:
- Commercial health insurance
- Public hospitals and clinics
- Elderly and residential care
- Occupational health and rehabilitation/physiotherapy
- Dialysis centers
- Multidisciplinary cancer treatment centers
- First aid and air ambulance services
- Diagnostic services such as X-ray, MRI, CT, advanced laboratory services including histopathology
- Services for the maintenance and repair of medical equipment
- Mortuary services/Funeral homes
Contact: U.S. Commercial Service Ghana Commercial Specialist Victoria Agbai at Office.Accra@trade.gov or +233 (0) 30 274 1184 for more information.