PharmAccess, a healthcare organization, has emphasized the need for visible leadership, sustained investment, effective measurement, and active patient participation to improve the safety of non-communicable disease (NCD) care in Ghana. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in 10 patients is harmed while receiving healthcare globally, with around half of that harm considered preventable. People living with NCDs, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and diabetes, face particular risks due to the complex and continuous care they require.
The SafeCare Director of PharmAccess Ghana, Bonifacia Benefo Agyei, made the call at a Ghana Health Service event in Accra to commemorate the 2026 World Patient Safety Day. The event focused on safe care for non-communicable diseases under the theme “Safe care for life!” Ms Benefo Agyei noted that the risks faced by people living with chronic conditions cannot be addressed through isolated interventions. She cited the example of a woman diagnosed with hypertension in her 40s who may have to live with the condition for another 30 to 40 years.
PharmAccess is using four interventions to address some of the points where NCD care can break down. Through SafeCare, the organisation supports healthcare facilities to assess their services against internationally recognised standards, identify gaps, and translate the findings into measurable improvements. The programme works with the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and private providers to ensure that quality improvement is embedded within Ghanaian institutions and led by local teams.
Globally, SafeCare has assessed thousands of facilities, with 74% demonstrating measurable quality improvement, according to PharmAccess. The systems supported through the methodology currently serve approximately 9.6 million patient visits each month. PharmAccess is also working to advance value-based care, a model that links payments to patient outcomes rather than simply the number of procedures performed.
PharmAccess has developed a digital health platform, NkwaPlus, which allows patients to share health information from home with their care teams, supporting continuous monitoring and earlier intervention. The Medical Credit Fund, another intervention, provides loans and technical assistance to healthcare providers to enable them to address identified quality gaps. The fund has so far supported more than 2,100 healthcare providers and disbursed more than 12,000 loans, with a reported 95% repayment rate.
Ms Benefo Agyei outlined four conditions necessary for safer care, including visible leadership, sustained investment, effective measurement, and active patient participation. She emphasized that patient safety must be a standing item at every level of the health system, from the ministry to the ward. Commitment to patient safety must be reflected in budgets, staffing, and operational plans.
The WHO's 2026 campaign emphasizes the need for people living with NCDs to be partners in safe care, while highlighting continuity of care, stronger health systems, and meaningful patient engagement. Ms Benefo Agyei urged stakeholders to agree on a short list of practical actions, with each assigned a responsible lead, timeline, budget, and measurable outcome.
Key points
- Four conditions necessary for safe NCD care are visible leadership, sustained investment, effective measurement, and active patient participation.
