Introduction

This chapter investigates the nature of healthcare policies and implementation in Ghana. It argues that although the country's healthcare policies are formulated to accomplish the Millennium Development Goal, there are notable challenges that tend to limit the Government of Ghana's ability to accomplish its various health policy goals. The chapter also describes how some of Ghana's health policies imposed 15%–50% for health service fees. These out-of-pocket fees have negatively affected its citizens’ healthcare delivery network and accessibility. The chapter also discussed how citizens’ reaction to the negative health policies has led to a major movement from modern medicine to traditional medicine as well as a preference for self-medication for treatment rather than going to hospitals to seek healthcare from physicians. The circumstances that led to the establishment of a new health insurance scheme are also discussed in the chapter. The aftermath of the National Health Insurance Scheme and the current outcomes of the policy's impact on the citizens and residents of Ghana are analyzed. Increased health spending by the government of Ghana has led to an increase in life expectancy, reduced infant mortality, and a reduction in maternal mortality rate. Despite major improvements in the health policy and administration in the country, results show that there is a major gap in access to healthcare between the population in the rural and urban regions. There are disparities between rich and poor citizens and residents of Ghana with respect to the affordability of healthcare services. Some new policies that could be formulated to solve the current challenges are recommended.

Brief History of Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is in West Africa. It has boundaries with the Republic of Togo to the east, Côte d’Ivoire to the west, and Burkina Faso to the north. The Atlantic Ocean is to the south of the country. According to the World Bank Indicators (2022) and Worldometer (2022) report Ghana's population was 33.5 million in 2022 (Worldometer 2023). The nation's gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to be about US$2,175 billion in 2022 (GlobalEdge 2022; World Bank Indicators 2022; Worldometer 2023). Ghana gained its independence from the United Kingdom on May 6, 1957. The Republic of Ghana currently has a unitary constitutional democracy government.