Ghana launches Quality of Care assessment to enhance healthcare

GHANA— The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with the WHO and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UKFCDO), has inaugurated the Quality of Care (QoC) assessment as part of the Harmonised Health Facility Assessment (HHFA).

This initiative aims to enhance both access to and the quality of healthcare services in Ghana. While the country has made significant progress in making healthcare available to its citizens, this new focus on quality is essential for improving patient outcomes.

The QoC module represents a shift from traditional facility audits. It utilizes a data-driven methodology to evaluate adherence to established care standards.

This approach emphasizes that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) encompasses not only service availability but also the delivery of high-quality healthcare.

In February 2025, key stakeholders—including representatives from the Ministry of Health, WHO, the World Bank, and UKFCDO—met to refine data collection tools and align them with national healthcare priorities.

During this training session, Dominic Kwabena Atweam, WHO Ghana’s Strategic Health Information Officer, highlighted the critical nature of accurate data.

He stated that this training would ensure that Ghana’s health data complies with international standards, making it both comparable and actionable. 

Dr. Winfred K. Ofosu, Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, stressed the importance of collaboration for the success of the QoC module.

He noted that the data generated would inform essential policy decisions to enhance healthcare delivery nationwide.

Additionally, Dr. Nana Ayegua Hagan from the World Bank emphasized the value of reliable data, pointing out that Ghana’s HHFA could serve as a model for other countries.

“Reliable data is key. Ghana’s HHFA has set a precedent for other nations, and this phase on Quality of Care will deepen our understanding of service delivery gaps,” she remarked.

To effectively implement the QoC assessment, Ghana’s HHFA team has adopted a rigorous methodology that includes both census and random sampling techniques to gather data from various healthcare facilities.

WHO has also provided training for data managers and customized its standardized questionnaires to reflect Ghana’s specific healthcare context.

Dr. Akwesi Amponsah Abrompah, Medical Superintendent of Dawurapong Polyclinic, described the initiative as transformative at the facility level.

He noted that strengthening their capacity to assess and document care quality would lead to better patient outcomes.

Dominic Farrell, Health Advisor to the UKFCDO Ghana Country Office, reaffirmed their commitment to evidence-based policymaking.

He stated that findings from the Quality-of-Care assessment would play a crucial role in shaping Ghana’s National Healthcare Quality Strategy.

The insights gained will facilitate targeted interventions aimed at improving service quality and equity.

Ghana’s progress in integrating QoC assessments into its national health framework marks a significant achievement.

Continued collaboration among national and international partners demonstrates that data-driven decision-making is vital for building a resilient, equitable, and patient-centered healthcare system in the country.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and beyond. Also, follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.