94,400 people in Ghana die annually from Non-Communicable Disease (NCD).

Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and mental illness have been identified as leading NCDs with major fatalities.

The Ghana Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (GhNCDA) made this disclosure at the inaugural High Level Meeting on NCDs in Accra in the run up to the United Nations High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The UN meeting is expected to be attended by world leaders in late September.

The Accra conference provided platform for key health stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service/NCDP, Civil Society Organizations, and people living with NCDs to discuss it in the context of achieving Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Alexander Kodwo Abban, in an address, revealed that without the Universal Health Coverage, it is highly unlikely the country would be able to defeat the NCDs epidemic soon.

Government, he said, has responsibility to ensure quality healthcare that is available and affordable at the point of need.

“Government is making efforts to ensure people with chronic diseases are captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme to alleviate the burden in respect to cost and access to healthcare in the country,” he stated.

According to the Deputy Minister, the Ministry is considering increasing taxes on tobacco, alcohol and other unhealthy commodities to generate revenue to support the NHIS.

Chairperson of the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA), and Chairperson of the Ghana Cancer Board, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, advised that to address the health needs of people, there is a need for everyone to enjoy quality standards of care and financial protection.