Private medical and dental practitioners are calling on government to waive import duties and taxes on advanced medical equipment, including MRI and PET-CT scanners, arguing that the move is essential to improving cancer treatment outcomes across Ghana.
The Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP) says the prohibitively high cost of such equipment is limiting access to critical diagnostic and treatment services, at a time when the country records an estimated 28,000 new cancer cases and 18,000 deaths annually.
The Society described Ghana’s cancer burden in stark terms, noting that the scale of new cases and deaths recorded each year represents a significant public health concern requiring coordinated intervention from all stakeholders, not government alone.
“This is a huge public health concern that requires coordinated intervention from all stakeholders to manage it effectively. The state cannot shoulder this responsibility alone.”
SPMDP
Interestingly, the Society pointed out that developed nations actually record higher numbers of cancer cases overall, yet experience significantly lower morbidity and mortality rates due to better public information dissemination and prompt medical attention once symptoms appear.
According to the Society, government has already put measures in place to make cancer treatment more affordable, but a lack of public awareness means many Ghanaians remain unaware of these interventions. As a result, patients frequently turn first to prayer camps, herbalists, and other alternative options before seeking hospital care, often only when their condition has progressed beyond effective treatment.
Private Sector Investment Expected, But Costs Remain High
The Society explained that government expects the private sector to invest in advanced medical equipment such as MRI machines, PET-CT scanners, and radiography units to help ease congestion at public health facilities.
It noted that government also expects private providers to collaborate closely with public facilities, particularly in the shared use of such high-value equipment, and to negotiate terms with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce the financial burden on patients for cases not fully covered by insurance.
“As custodians of the state, we understand the government’s concern and wish to ease the financial burden of cancer treatment on the citizens of Ghana.”
SPMDP
The Society, however, stressed that the heavy financial overheads associated with acquiring such advanced technology make it difficult for private providers to meet these expectations without additional government support, particularly given the steep costs involved in importing the equipment.
Call for Duty Waivers and Financial Guarantees
To address this challenge, the Society is proposing that government waive import duties and taxes on advanced medical equipment and facilitate its swift clearance from ports, describing SPMDP as a well-organised body capable of ensuring that such concessions are not abused.
Beyond tax waivers, the Society is also calling on government to provide dedicated budgetary support for the private health sector, or alternatively, offer financial guarantees that would enable private providers to access financing from banks on more favourable terms to fund equipment purchases.
The Society further called on government to facilitate the formation of an umbrella body bringing together private sector health groups under the Ministry of Health, arguing that such a structure would allow for more effective coordination between private providers and the Ministry as the sector’s major stakeholder. In this regard, the Society proposed that a Chamber of Health be instituted as soon as possible to formalise this coordination.
Call for Comprehensive, Nationwide Strategy
Beyond equipment and financing concerns, the Society outlined a broader vision for effective cancer management in Ghana, one that includes expanding infrastructure, reducing financial barriers to treatment, and decentralising care away from concentration in major urban centres. It identified key actions such as upgrading treatment technology, fully integrating cancer care into insurance coverage, scaling up community-level screening programmes, and establishing a comprehensive cancer training institute in each district of the country.
The Society maintained that the fight against cancer cannot be won by any single entity acting alone, insisting that all stakeholders, government, private practitioners, insurance bodies, and communities, must be actively engaged for any meaningful progress to be made.
The Society noted that while cancer itself is not a new problem in Ghana, tackling its growing burden effectively requires fresh management strategies tailored to the realities facing the Ghanaian population today.
It reaffirmed its readiness to serve as a committed partner in the national fight against cancer, positioning private practitioners as key players in efforts to expand access, improve early detection, and ultimately reduce the country’s cancer mortality rate in the years ahead.
