The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has underscored the need for African countries to prioritize efforts at reducing health inequalities and improve access to quality healthcare for all.

According to United Nations Development Programme, although there have been a significant progress in improving health outcomes, there are still challenges and vast inequalities in access to healthcare services.

Ms Belynda Amankwa, Programme Specialist for Health at UNDP Ghana Office, in a statement, noted that though there have been significant progress in improving healthcare – thus, from the eradication of smallpox, to the development of life-saving vaccines and antiretroviral therapies, the world still faces significant health challenges and vast inequalities in access to healthcare services.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 30 per cent of the global population do not have access to essential health services.

A quarter of the world’s population are faced with the risk of impoverishment due to healthcare spending, and a third of the world do not have access to lifesaving medicines.

Furthermore, the UNDP noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has derailed gains made to combat HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Meanwhile, the program specialist noted that here in Ghana, despite the significant progress made in healthcare delivery in recent years, the challenges still remain.

Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Continue to Pose Significant Threat

According to Ms. Amankwa, communicable and non-communicable diseases continue to pose significant threat to public health, and the quality of healthcare services remain variable across the country.

Ms. Amankwa asserted that by prioritizing healthcare delivery, countries could ensure that everyone, regardless of his or her background or circumstances, could have an opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

These actions, according to the program director, are critical as nations work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Three and other health-related SDGs in the next seven years (2030).

“We must remember that time is of essence. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind, and we must work together across sectors and borders to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”
Ms Belynda Amankwa

Ms. Amankwa suggested that Ghana, among other nations, invested in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which guaranteed timely and equitable access to quality health services when and where people needed them, without financial hardship.

“Supporting the implementation of Ghana’s UHC roadmap and strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will be a critical step to address the root causes of financial barriers to healthcare access to all persons living in Ghana.”
Ms Belynda Amankwa

Again, Ms. Amankwa believed the use of Health Technology Assessments (HTA) for prioritization and effective resource allocation for Universal Health Coverage should also be prioritized.

Ms Amankwa indicated that the UNDP has led Access and Delivery Partnership’s support for the institutionalization of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) within Ghana’s health system which is helping to prioritize and allocate resources for UHC for all.

Ms Amankwa added that there is the need to embrace primary health care services, harness the power of digital technology as well as strengthening multi-sectorial action on health.