Health startups critical to Ghana’s development — Health experts

Health experts and entrepreneurs at a Ghana Health Entrepreneurship Summit have called for increased investment in the health startup ecosystem to address systemic gaps and improve service delivery.

The summit, which was held in Accra, also highlighted the transformative potential of technology and entrepreneurship in health care. 

“Startups are the future of health care. They have the agility to innovate and solve challenges unique to Ghana,” a Public Health Consultant at the event, Dr Ama Oforiwaa, said.

Discussions covered themes such as telemedicine, AI diagnostics and community-based healthcare delivery models.

“If we invest in these startups, we are not just investing in businesses but in the lives of Ghanaians," Dr Oforiwaa added.

Organised by Social Enterprise Ghana and funded by the Anesvad Foundation, the event brought together healthcare entrepreneurs, policymakers, and representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ghana Health Service (GHS), among others.

It was on the theme: “Developing Health Entrepreneurs in Ghana".

Health care

The Ambassador of Spain to Ghana, Ambassador Àngel Lossada Torres-Quewendo, also emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship in addressing healthcare challenges.

He called for a holistic approach to tackle unattended tropical diseases, such as Buruli ulcer, that plague Ghana and other countries.

“The fight against these diseases requires common efforts and a collective approach. It’s a complex issue that demands cooperation from governments, international organisations, civil society and individuals,” he said.

Robust health ecosystem

For his part, the Executive Director of Social Enterprise Ghana and one of the summit's organisers, Edwin Zu-Cudjoe, emphasised the need for a robust ecosystem to nurture health startups.

“Ghana’s healthcare challenges require local solutions, and our entrepreneurs are more than capable of delivering them if given the right support,” he said.

"As Ghana works toward achieving universal health coverage, the summit underscored that empowering startups will be pivotal in driving sustainable progress," Mr Zu-Cudjoe continued.

He further stressed the importance of collaboration. “Private sector investment and public policy must align to create an enabling environment for these startups to thrive.”

Spotlight

The event also spotlighted women-led startups making waves in areas such as maternal health care and reproductive health.

One such entrepreneur, Grace Nyamekye, shared her journey of building a platform that provided prenatal care to rural women. 

“Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about understanding the people you serve,” she remarked.