China-West Africa medical expo opens in Accra with focus on AI, investment and healthcare innovation

The third China-West Africa Medical and Health Industry and AI Diagnosis and Project Cooperation Summit and Expo has opened in Accra, bringing together healthcare professionals, investors, researchers, technology companies, manufacturers and policymakers from Ghana, China and across West Africa.

The three-day event, organised by the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA), is being held at the Ghana International Mall under the theme, “Strengthening China-West Africa Health Partnerships Through Innovation, Investment, Technology and Sustainable Healthcare Development.”

The summit is focused on strengthening cooperation between China, Ghana and other West African countries in artificial intelligence, medical technology, pharmaceutical production, healthcare investment, research and innovation.

Opening the summit, Chief Executive Officer of HCOWAA, Anna Jiang, said the association was committed to ensuring that healthcare cooperation translated into practical projects, investments, job creation, technology transfer and improvements in health services.

She said artificial intelligence presented significant opportunities for healthcare delivery, particularly in medical analysis, imaging, hospital administration and early disease detection.

Jiang said HCOWAA was working with Ghanaian health authorities to develop safe and locally appropriate AI and digital health initiatives, including smart hospital solutions, with an ambition to support up to 300 hospitals with relevant digital technologies.

She stressed that AI was intended to assist rather than replace medical professionals, adding that its deployment must prioritise patient safety, data protection, human oversight and compliance with Ghanaian laws.

The association also intends to engage relevant stakeholders to develop plans for a medical production park and equipment-assembly hub in Ghana to promote local production, technology transfer and skills development.

The expo has attracted more than 100 Chinese enterprises, with 99 exhibition stands, approximately 80 per cent of which are occupied by Chinese companies and 20 per cent by local enterprises.

The participating companies are showcasing pharmaceutical products, traditional medicine, medical equipment and artificial intelligence technologies designed for healthcare delivery.

Eight West African countries are represented at this year's summit, an increase from six countries at the previous edition.

The event is also creating a platform for Chinese investors and manufacturers to engage Ghanaian stakeholders on local pharmaceutical production, medical technology and healthcare infrastructure.

Focus on local pharmaceutical production

The summit comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to strengthen domestic production of medicines and vaccines and reduce dependence on imported healthcare products.

The organisers said Chinese partnerships could help mobilise investment, technology and expertise required to establish pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing facilities in Ghana.

The summit is also promoting academic and professional exchanges between Ghana, other West African countries and China, including opportunities for researchers and health professionals to undertake training and exchange programmes in China.

Government backs responsible AI adoption

Deputy Minister for Health, Grace Ayensu-Danquah, said Ghana's cooperation with China should go beyond importing finished medical products to include local manufacturing and assembly, technology transfer, research collaboration, professional training and investment in local technical capacity.

She said advances in artificial intelligence, digital health, biotechnology and data science were creating new opportunities to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and health-system management.

However, she stressed that AI solutions adopted in Ghana must be clinically validated, secure, affordable and appropriate to the country's healthcare system.

“Most importantly, technology must support, not replace, the judgement and human connection of health professionals,” she said.

The Deputy Minister highlighted Ghana's Free Primary Healthcare programme, whose first phase covers 150 underserved districts and includes screening for hypertension, diabetes and cancer, maternal and child healthcare, immunisation and treatment of common illnesses.

She said government had also produced 24,534 pieces of medical equipment to strengthen service delivery at the primary healthcare level.

Ayensu-Danquah said the 2023 STEPS survey recorded hypertension prevalence of 21.7 per cent and diabetes prevalence of 5.2 per cent among the population surveyed, underscoring the need for stronger prevention and early detection.

GHS calls for stronger collaboration

Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Caroline Reindorf Amissah, described the summit as a timely platform for bringing together healthcare leaders, professionals, researchers, technology experts, policymakers and investors from China, Ghana and across West Africa.

She commended HCOWAA for sustaining the summit and creating a platform for government, health institutions, international partners, professionals, technology companies and investors to engage on the future of healthcare.

Dr Amissah said the rapidly changing healthcare environment required stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that scientific and technological advances translated into improved healthcare delivery.

She encouraged participants to use the summit to develop practical partnerships that respond to the needs of Ghana's health system, while strengthening innovation, research and technology adoption.

Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Caroline Reindorf Amissah, described the summit as a timely platform bringing together key stakeholders from China, Ghana and across West Africa and commended the Health Community of West Africa Association for sustaining the initiative, saying it provided an opportunity to explore practical ways of applying science, technology and innovation to healthcare delivery.

Dr Amissah urged participants to use the platform to forge partnerships that respond to Ghana's healthcare needs, strengthen health systems and improve patient outcomes.

The summit features exhibitions, professional forums, investment discussions and specialised sessions on AI in healthcare, oncology, nephrology and kidney health, pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine, medical technology and digital healthcare.

Organisers said the success of the summit would ultimately be measured by the investments, partnerships, local manufacturing initiatives, technology transfers, training opportunities and improvements in healthcare delivery that emerge from the discussions.

The three-day programme is expected to deepen China-West Africa healthcare cooperation and create new opportunities for investment and innovation in Ghana and across the sub-region.