In a renewed call for a transformative approach to Ghana’s health sector, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, former Presidential Advisor on Health, has reiterated the urgency of integrating private sector participation to bolster Ghana’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking during a media briefing at the climax of the Ghana Health Market Tour in Accra, Dr. Nsiah-Asare emphasized that the private sector must play a central role in health system improvements.
“We believe that the private sector is the engine of growth, and we need the private sector to join the public sector to improve the health systems of this country to achieve quality universal health coverage,” he stated.
His remarks reflect a long-standing advocacy for a multi-sectoral approach in solving Ghana’s persistent healthcare challenges.
As a former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service and one of the architects of the country’s UHC roadmap, Dr. Nsiah-Asare has consistently pointed to the limitations in public healthcare delivery — such as infrastructure deficits, workforce constraints, and resource inadequacies — as barriers to inclusive healthcare access.
“The private sector in this country is very, very important,” he added, reinforcing his belief that strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors can lead to “expanded access, increased range of services, and better health outcomes.”
The Ghana Health Market Tour brought together health stakeholders from across the continent and the globe to explore investment, innovation, and collaboration in Ghana’s health market.
Dr. Nsiah-Asare praised the event, noting its strategic significance: “The Ghana Health Market Tour is something some of us have been looking forward to over the years.”
He underscored the tour’s potential to position Ghana as a regional leader in medical tourism, saying, “We’ve been looking at health systems in the country and how we can position ourselves as a country to become the medical tourism hub of the sub-region.”
International participants echoed his optimism. Valmy Karemera, Director of Global Partnerships at CallCare24, shared: “This has been an excellent conference and an excellent market tool… I have found that there are endless opportunities and how we can advance healthcare here in Ghana and across the continent.”
Norah Magero, Co-Founder and CEO of Kenya-based Drop Access, noted the business impact: “The Tour has opened up new opportunities for partnerships and new business modules that are ideal for the Ghana Market.”
Also weighing in, Bima Ghana’s Country Manager, Sosthenes Konutsey, said the engagement gave him a clearer understanding of local health needs: “It’s been exciting attending this programme, and going to visit health practitioners and health service delivery partners in Ghana to understand the market a lot more.”
Dr. Nsiah-Asare concluded with optimism, stating, “The reason for this tour is to make sure that the private sector becomes very important in the health of this country. So, I am happy.”
BY Nadia Ntiamoah
