For an estimated 2.4 million people in Ghana living with diabetes, a manageable chronic illness has become a desperate daily struggle for survival.
By exploring Ghana's diabetes crisis, we uncover how families become trapped in a devastating cycle. They must choose between essential medication and basic needs like food and rent. As the cost of care continues to soar and systemic failures plague the nation's healthcare infrastructure, Ghana faces a public health emergency. This threatens not only lives but also the economic stability of countless households.
The Crushing Cost of Survival
Diabetes, a condition where the body cannot properly manage blood sugar, is on the rise in Ghana. Type 2 diabetes is now increasingly diagnosed in younger adults. If left poorly managed, it can lead to severe complications, including heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness. Yet, effective management is a luxury many cannot afford. This exacerbates Ghana's diabetes crisis.
According to Dr Ernest Asubonteng at Kumasi's Adum Clinic, the monthly cost for diabetes care can range from GH₵300 to GH₵800. With the national minimum wage hovering around GH₵800, many patients struggle to afford treatment. Essential tools, such as glucometers and test strips, are vital for safe medication use. These add hundreds more to the monthly bill. Consequently, consistent care is far beyond the reach of the average citizen amidst the diabetes crisis in Ghana.
NHIS Gaps and Failing Supply Chains
While Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covers some basic medications, including certain types of insulin, significant gaps leave patients vulnerable. Many people encounter frequent stock-outs at public facilities. This often forces them to visit private pharmacies, where prices can be three times higher. This further underscores Ghana's diabetes crisis.
A fragile pharmaceutical supply chain compounds this issue. With an overreliance on imports and poor stock management, only 30 per cent of essential diabetes medicines are consistently available in public health centres. For patients in rural areas, such as Aframso in the Ashanti Region, the challenge is twofold. They must bear high transport costs to reach distant specialists, only to find that the necessary drugs are unavailable amidst Ghana's ongoing diabetes crisis.
Ghana's Diabetes Crisis: A Debt Sentence
The financial toll is catastrophic. Families report depleting their savings within months of a diagnosis. This leads to crippling debt, the sale of assets, and children being pulled from school. As financial consultant Abigail Mensah notes, a family's risk of catastrophic health spending skyrockets by 300 per cent when chronic illness strikes. This highlights the severity of Ghana's diabetes crisis.
In the face of this crisis, innovative solutions are emerging. A nurse in Kumasi has launched a medication subscription model. This model cuts costs by up to 40 per cent by buying in bulk and delivering directly to patients. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs like Akosua Gyamaa are starting businesses. These businesses provide affordable, diabetic-friendly meals. Such efforts aim to alleviate some of the burden caused by Ghana's diabetes crisis.
Health experts insist that systemic reform is crucial. They advocate for expanded NHIS coverage, price regulation, and investment in local drug manufacturing. Countries like Rwanda and Thailand are cited as models. As Ghana’s diabetic population is projected to reach 3.6 million by 2030, the question remains: will life-saving care become a right for all, or remain a privilege for the few amidst Ghana's diabetes crisis?