The Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Alliance, an advocacy group championing the rights of persons living with NCDs is calling on government to as a matter of urgency include NCDs on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to them, Non-communicable Diseases contribute more than 43% of deaths in the country, a situation that has been blamed on the high cost of treatment.
National Coordinator for the Ghana NCD Alliance, Labram Musah, made a proposal for better packaging for people suffering from NCDs at a media engagement in Accra.
“We are calling on the government to ensure that issues concerning Non-communicable Diseases are covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme so that the burden of cost for treating Non-communicable Diseases is reduced. We want a better package,” he said.
Non-communicable Diseases are a chronic disease that tends to prolong as a result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
Example of Non-communicable Diseases is a heart attack, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and diabetes.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Non-communicable Diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
Each year, 15 million people die from an NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years; and over 85% of these “premature” deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.