The Hidden Costs of Health Care in Ghana
The National Health Insurance Program
The Ghanaian government has been working to make health care more affordable by setting up a national health insurance program. The goal was to reduce out-of-pocket spending, ensuring that people wouldn't have to spend a significant amount of money on health care.
The Reality
However, the program is not working as well as hoped. Many people are still spending a lot of money on health care, known as out-of-pocket expenditure. This direct payment for health services can be very high, sometimes causing financial problems for families, a situation referred to as catastrophic health expenditure.
The Hypertension Challenge
One area where this is a significant issue is in managing hypertension, a serious health condition that requires regular care and medication. The cost of managing hypertension can be prohibitive for many people, especially in the Greater Accra Region.
The Government's Plan vs. Reality
The government's plan was to alleviate the financial burden of health care. However, the reality is different. Many people are still struggling with high health care costs. This indicates that the current system isn't working well enough. Something needs to change to make health care truly affordable for everyone.
