Ghana has marked a new milestone in its healthcare sector
Ghana has marked a new milestone in its healthcare sector with the successful hosting of its inaugural Consumer Health Week (CHW), a national initiative aimed at advancing patient rights, improving health literacy, and strengthening accountability in the health system.
The week-long programme, held from April 6 to April 12 and anchored on World Health Day, featured a two-day Consumer Health Week Summit and Health Expo at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on April 7–8. It brought together government officials, regulators, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals, innovators, and members of the public under the theme “Empowering Consumers. Strengthening Health Systems.”
The initiative was convened by Development Impact Partners in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), with the aim of placing patients at the centre of healthcare delivery and policy formulation.
Chairing the summit, Professor Gordon Awandare, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, stressed the need to align global health observances such as World Health Day with Ghana’s local health realities to build trust in health institutions.
Dr Caroline Amissah, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to consumer-centred healthcare governance. The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Fiona Braka, also urged policymakers to prioritise science and research in improving health outcomes.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni, reiterated the FDA’s mandate to safeguard public health, while Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, CEO of the National Vaccine Institute, emphasised the need to treat patients as co-designers of the health system.
The official launch of Consumer Health Week was performed on behalf of the Minister for Health by Dr. Hafiz Adams Tahir, Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, who assured stakeholders of government’s commitment to implementing policy recommendations from the summit.
Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu, highlighted the constitutional basis of healthcare rights, noting that the right to health is linked to the right to life under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
Discussions during the summit also focused on regulatory leadership, vaccine hesitancy, nutrition, and mental health, with experts calling for stronger public education to support informed health decisions.
On the second day, Member of Parliament for Korle-Klottey, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, delivered a keynote address describing consumer health as both a public health and national security concern, while emphasising the role of women in health decision-making.
A regulatory panel comprising the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Standards Authority, and the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority outlined measures including expanded inspections, digitalisation of services, and increased community engagement.
The summit also showcased digital health innovations such as DociaCare, Bloodworld Platform, Mycare Mobile, and Fornix AI, highlighting the role of technology in improving healthcare access and delivery.
Participants agreed on key priorities including recognising consumer health as a constitutional right, strengthening regulatory accountability, promoting science-based decision-making, and advancing digital health innovation.
As part of community engagement, a health outreach exercise at Osu Obeweku in Accra provided free medical services to over 400 residents.
Supported by partners including Softcare, Pharmanova, and Promoworld, Consumer Health Week is expected to become an annual platform for driving healthcare reform and innovation in Ghana.
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