Written By : Abdulalam Mohammed Daaru: CEO Oxygen Health Technologies/Telemedicine

As part of efforts to mark World Health Day, 7th April 2025, CDD Ghana released its 2024 Afrobarometer survey, revealing critical insights into the state of health care access in the country.

1. Growing Concerns About Health Access in Ghana: The survey highlights deep-seated concerns among Ghanaians regarding their ability to access or afford medical care should they or a family member fall ill. More than half of the population reported having gone without medicines or medical treatment at least once in the past year—a worrying statistic that has risen by 21 percentage points since 2019. This growing anxiety underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to improve both the availability and affordability of healthcare across the country.

2. Public Support for Universal Health Care Reform: Healthcare now ranks as the third most important issue for Ghanaians, following unemployment and poor infrastructure. Even more telling is the overwhelming majority of citizens who believe the government should ensure universal access to adequate healthcare, even if it means increasing taxes. This response shows not only the seriousness of the problem but also the willingness of the public to support transformative policies that expand access to care and address health inequities.

3. The Need for Innovative Solutions: Telemedicine as a Key Strategy: In light of these findings, it is clear that Ghana must explore innovative and sustainable strategies to bridge the health access gap, particularly in underserved and rural areas. One of the most promising solutions is the adoption of telemedicine. Through telemedicine, patients can consult with doctors and specialists remotely, reducing the challenges of long travel times, overcrowded health facilities, and the shortage of health professionals in certain regions.

4. Successful Telemedicine Initiatives Across Africa: Telemedicine’s potential is underscored by recent examples from across the continent. In countries such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Nigeria, digital health solutions have been pivotal in overcoming barriers to health access during the pandemic. For example, in Nigeria, telemedicine has been used to provide critical mental health care and support for children with sickle cell anemia (Adepoju, 2020; Nlemadim et al., 2021). South Africa reported improvements in medication adherence for diabetic patients through telemedicine (Owolabi et al., 2020), while Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya also leveraged telehealth to deliver critical health services while minimizing COVID-19 exposure (P. Adebayo et al., 2020).

5. Telemedicine’s Long-Term Impact on Healthcare Systems: Such successes are not confined to the pandemic. Video consultations and remote monitoring have proven to be highly effective in improving patient outcomes and easing the burden on overcrowded hospitals (Moolla et al., 2020). These examples demonstrate how telemedicine can provide timely, accessible, and cost-effective healthcare solutions, especially in resource-constrained settings.

6. Aligning Telemedicine with Ghana’s Digital Transformation Agenda: Telemedicine can be a powerful tool in Ghana’s health system, enabling early disease detection, better management of chronic conditions, and reducing the pressure on overstretched healthcare facilities. Moreover, it aligns with Ghana's digital transformation agenda, supporting the country’s broader efforts to embrace technology to improve services across sectors.

7. A Call to Action: Telemedicine as a Necessity for Ghana’s Future Health System: The Afrobarometer data presents a stark reality but also an opportunity for change. Ghanaians are ready for a transformation in the healthcare system, one that is not bound by traditional models but embraces innovative solutions like telemedicine. By integrating telemedicine into the national health strategy, Ghana can make meaningful strides towards universal health coverage and improved health outcomes for all.

Now is the time to act. Telemedicine is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. The government, in collaboration with private sector stakeholders and health innovators, must move quickly to harness the power of telemedicine to address the pressing health access challenges facing Ghanaians today.

References:

• Adepoju, P. (2020). Telemedicine for Mental Health Care in Nigeria: Addressing Gaps in Mental Health Services.

• Moolla, A., et al. (2020). The Role of Telemedicine in Reducing COVID-19 Exposure: The South African Experience.

• Nlemadim, I., et al. (2021). Telemedicine and Child Healthcare in Nigeria: Managing Sickle Cell Anemia through Virtual Consultations.

• Owolabi, M., et al. (2020). Telemedicine for Diabetes Care in South Africa: Improving Medication Adherence through Remote Interventions.

• P. Adebayo, et al. (2020). Telemedicine Adoption across African Nations: Case Studies from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, and More.