Ghana Medical Tourism
Welcome to Ghana!
Welcome to Ghana, the safest, friendliest, most-affordable English-speaking country in Africa! The Republic of Ghana, as it is officially called, is a sovereign multinational state and unitary presidential constitutional democracy, located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, in the sub-region of West Africa.
The Land of Sunshine welcomes one and all with warmth and hospitality, thus gaining the reputation of the friendliest African country. From the small villages populated by hospitable locals, to the modern city of Accra, Ghana surprises and amazes everyone that visits.
- Currency – Ghana cedi
- Language – English
- Climate – Tropical climate with two seasons: the wet season and dry season
- Capital – Accra
Faithful keepers of the old African traditions and culture, the Ghanaian people are a perpetual explosion of color and ancestral exuberance. With a population of about 20 million, of which about 10% are living in the metropolitan area of the capital of Accra, Ghana still retains its old style flavors.
If you want to fully emerge yourself in the local cultural experience, Ghana is teeming of outdoor festivals. The Edina Buronya Festival, for instance, is the local version of Christmas which is exclusively celebrated in the Elmina (Edina) region. Celebrated on the first Thursday of the New Year, the festival reminds of an old Portuguese tradition held in January. It is a period of purification, sacrifices to the Gods, remembrance of the dead and the welcoming of the New Year.
If your scene is a more mellow one, you can splurge in one of the malls. The Accra Mall is the first large-scale shopping center in Ghana. It is one of the finest shopping malls in the sub region and is comparable to other similar sized malls anywhere in the world. The enclosed, fully air-conditioned shopping center has 20,000 square meters of retail space, with parking for over 900 cars. The Accra Mall accommodates 65 line-shops of which 30% are operated by Ghanaian retailers.
Health Tourism in Ghana
The Health Ministry of Ghana has initiated a policy to make the country a health tourism destination by creating specialized health care centers. The goal of the program is to attract patients from other African countries. The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) in Tamale are a few of the medical facilities that should lead the medical tourism revival movement of Ghana.
Why are Ghanaian patients Traveling for Medical Care?
In Ghana, most health care is provided by the government and largely administered by the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services. Unfortunately, health care is very variable through the country. Urban centers are well served, and contain most hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the country. However, rural areas often have no modern health care. Patients in these areas either rely on traditional African medicine, or travel great distances for health care. Thusly, patients that can afford to travel abroad for treatment for various conditions, choose to do so in order to get better medical attention.
Where are Ghanaian patients Traveling for Medical Care?
Most of the Ghanaian patients that travel abroad choose India as their primary destination. Some of the reasons they do so is the low costs for medical care and the possibility to access said medical care through large health tourism companies. Another reason as to why Ghanaians choose India is the high quality of the health itself. From doctors to facilities, India caters to almost every desire of its patients.
Some of the most common treatments that patients from Ghana travel to India for are:
- Orthopedic surgery (knee replacement mostly)
- Eye surgery
- Chronic disease treatments
Ghanaian patients seeking treatment abroad are advised to research all options before choosing a medical care provider; ask questions and get as much information as possible before planning their medical trip abroad. This will help them make an informed decision and choose the best care package in accordance to their specific needs.
If you need help seeking medical care abroad, do not hesitate to ask us!