Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has disclosed that non-communicable diseases account for approximately 43 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, underscoring the growing burden of chronic illnesses on the country’s healthcare system.

Speaking on the Floor of Parliament on Tuesday, July 14, Dr Ayensu-Danquah said the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases has made it imperative for the government to invest in specialised healthcare infrastructure and advanced medical equipment to improve patient outcomes.

According to her, diabetes and hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, remain the two leading non-communicable diseases affecting Ghanaians, with many patients developing life-threatening complications that require specialist treatment.

“Data shows that 43 percent of all mortalities in Ghana are coming from non-communicable diseases, mainly diabetes and high blood pressure. Most of the patients develop complications and when they develop complications, they need critical care or high-level specialised equipment.

“And so MahamaCares is supporting the furnishing of the hospitals, especially the teaching hospitals, with this high-level specialised equipment.”

Non-communicable diseases are medical conditions that are not transmitted from person to person and typically develop over a long period.

Unlike infectious diseases, they are often linked to a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and lifestyle factors.

The most common non-communicable diseases include cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases.

Many of these conditions are associated with risk factors including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and prolonged exposure to air pollution.