The Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana (SASNET-GHANA) and the World Hypertension League (WHL) have pleaded with the government to absorb the cost of treatment and care of hypertensive patients across the country by including it in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to the Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana, people living with hypertension are faced with numerous challenges regarding access to quality healthcare and the high cost of medications. The association bemoaned the situation, adding that most of the hypertension drugs are not on the list of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The call was made in a statement issued by Mr. Adams Ebenezer, the Executive Director of SASNET-GHANA as part of activities to mark this year’s World Hypertension Day. Meanwhile, the theme for the statement is “Measure your blood pressure, control it, and live longer”.
Mr. Adams Ebenezer said that “In Ghana, hypertension accounts for three quarters of all cases and death and possibly resulting in strokes and heart-related issues.”
Unavailability of Hypertension Drugs
The Executive Director further bemoaned the critical situations that hypertensive patients go through. He urged the government to address the unavailability issue of hypertension drugs in some of the health centers across the country and to supply them with functional digital blood pressure measuring devices for accurate measurement to minimize possible misdiagnosis, which could lead to complications or death.
“It is important that the government strengthens the healthcare system in Ghana to offer integrated care that addresses not only hypertension but also other chronic illnesses.
“It is estimated that more than 61 percent of the COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized had hypertension, 52 percent had diabetes, and 45 percent of people aged 60 to 69 who died from COVID-19 also had hypertension, according to, the World Health Organisation article.”
Mr. Adams Ebenezer
Mr. Adams Ebenezer stated that the high rate of increased blood pressure is a great concern. He noted that more than 50 percent of Ghanaian adults are living with hypertension, which he said “They are unaware of it, and those who are aware, half do not take any action to modify their lifestyle or medication.”
The Executive Director intimated that approximately four in 10 adults older than 25 years have hypertension. He added that 75 percent of the world’s hypertension population are at risk and are potential candidates for heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, or even sudden death.
Meanwhile, the statement continued that as part of marking the Day, the SASNET-GHANA in collaboration with partners would hold screening exercises in Ahafo Region and organize a virtual symposium to commemorate the event.
SASNET-GHANA commended the government for successfully launching Ghana’s National NCD Policy and the Strategic and Implementation Plan and that SASNET-GHANA and WHL would collaborate with the government to implement the policy, especially in the areas of hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
