Out of the figure, at least six per cent are also diagnosed of diabetes with majority of them undiagnosed or poorly managed placing millions of lives at risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and amputations.

The study co-conducted by the Nation­al Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Korea Foundation for International Ko­rea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) was on the topic: “Exploring Practices in the Management of Diabetes and Hyperten­sion among NHIS and Non-NHIS Members in Ghana.”

It painted a sobering picture of the country’s battle with chronic diseases describing the situa­tion as dire.

The study further revealed that most cases of hypertension and diabetes go undiagnosed or are poorly managed, leading to devastating health and economic consequences.

The findings were made known at a partner­ship conference between NHIS and KOFIH in Accra on Friday.

It was under the theme “Access, Affordability, and outcomes: Rethinking Diabetes and Hyper­tension Management in Ghana.”

Speaking at the conference, Professor Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah of the University of Ghana Business School, described the findings as not mere statistics but daily realities for millions of Ghanaians.

He said that chronic diseases are no longer silent killers, but a growing, unmistakable burden on individuals, families, and the health system.

“The economic implications of inaction are staggering. According to the World Economic Forum and Harvard School of Public Health, NCDs could cost low- and middle-income coun­tries over $7 trillion between 2011 and 2025 — and Ghana is not immune. In Ghana alone, the mean annual cost of treating diabetes is about GH¢ 3,197.57 per patient, while the lifetime cost of treating hypertension can exceed GH¢ 1.2 million. Together, diabetes and hypertension already rank among the top five cost drivers for the NHIS, consuming over 10 per cent of total claims expenditure.

According to him the study also highlighted a glimmer of hope, more than 95 per cent of respondents with diabetes or hypertension were enrolled on the NHIS, and 98 per cent ad­hered to their treatment regimens showing that access to healthcare enables responsible health behaviour.

“I urge policymakers to adopt a bold, mul­tisectoral strategy that includes strengthening primary healthcare systems, launching aggressive public education campaigns, integrating NCD services into existing health platforms, harness­ing digital health technologies, and building the capacity of the health workforce,” he added.

He also called for greater collaboration across sectors — including agriculture, education, transport, and urban planning — to tackle the root causes of chronic diseases, such as un­healthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.

The Deputy Chief Executive of Operations at the National Health Insurance Authority read a speech on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Authority, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe.

According to Dr Bampoe the findings of the study were as compelling as they were sobering. The vast majority of respondents living with these conditions are enrolled on the NHIS and receive care from credentialled health providers. This was a validation of the efforts to expand coverage and build trust in the public health system.

“However, serious challenges remain. Af­fordability continues to be a major concern, particularly for those who still bear the burden of out-of-pocket payments, costs that, in many cases, determine whether a patient can continue their treatment or must forego it. Moreover, while we note high levels of treatment adher­ence, we are far from where we need to be in terms of preventive behaviours, early detection, and continuity of care.

This reality calls for a paradigm shift in how we approach chronic disease management at the NHIA, and align to the national health strate­gy, we believe that prevention must become a central pillar of our national health strategy. To that end, we are actively working to integrate preventive healthcare services under the NHIS, through the government proposed free primary healthcare flagship initiative,” he added.

He said that it’s not just about disseminating research findings, it was about galvanising a shared responsibility to act.

“It is about challenging ourselves to rethink how we finance healthcare, how we design and deliver services, and how we build systems that are resilient, inclusive, and centered around peo­ple’s real needs,” he added.

The Deputy Country Director of KOFIH, Ms Chae Esun, on her part said this conference marks a significant milestone in the shared jour­ney toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) since 2013.