Significant uptake of medical imaging equipment in Ghana

Ghana's healthcare industry is experiencing growth across a range of sectors. However, the drive towards improved diagnostic capability has led to high demand for medical imaging devices.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com), Overview of the Healthcare Industry in Ghana, finds that the market earned revenues of $50.0 million in 2008 and estimates this to reach $135.8 million in 2015. The key drivers of growth include government investment into public hospital revitalisation and the National Health Insurance Scheme, which has made healthcare goods and services more affordable to Ghanaians.

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"The biggest drive towards the uptake of medical imaging devices and laboratory analysers in Ghana is that Government is investing in this area in order to improve the diagnostic capability of the country," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Lizelle Wentzel. "Due to the high incidence of various infectious diseases, Ghana has invested significant capital into upgrading hospitals, removing obsolete equipment and replacing it with new and improved devices."

In order to meet its goal of improved healthcare services, the government has placed medical imaging devices, particularly improved X-ray devices and ultrasound equipment in 41 selected public hospitals. In addition, the Government is also upgrading public laboratories through automation, supporting sizeable growth in the analyser market.

However, the need for high initial capital investment is restraining the uptake of more advanced technology. While there is major demand for medical devices in Ghana, the capital investment required to procure the equipment is not always available.

"The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the largest buyer of medical equipment in Ghana," explains Wentzel. "However, the MOH does not allocate sufficient funds to procuring the necessary devices."

The public sector relies greatly on donations while the private sector exhibits a preference for refurbished equipment. The implementation of a mobile unit with devices that can be shared between hospitals will be a key solution to the capital constraint facing the country.

"In order to meet the needs of both manufacturers and end-users, a mobile unit that would allow hospitals to share particular devices could decrease implementation and maintenance fees and instead operate by charging service and training fees," explains Wentzel. "This will be a less capital intensive endeavour for end-user groups in Ghana while still allowing them to have access to the latest technology."

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