UGMC & PharmAccess to launch innovative digital remote care service for diabetes and hypertension
Accra, 19th April 2023 - The University of Ghana Medical Centre LTD (UGMC) in collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation (an international NGO), will be launching NCD Care, a digital service, as part of its efforts to promote digital health innovations and initiatives in Ghana and within the sub-region on Thursday, 27th April 2023.
The NCD Care which is a digital innovation for healthcare service delivery is an intervention to help reduce the rising morbidity and mortality rates of non-communicable diseases in the country and the sub-region. The innovation will complement the traditional management of patients with diabetes and hypertension by allowing patients to use self-management tools to enter their daily measurements on their phones from the comfort of their homes, offices, or any location, and to be monitored and managed remotely by medical officers in real-time. This digital service will give great insight to both the patients and the doctors between formal physical hospital reviews. The service, which is fast and time-saving, will help reduce the frequency of hospital visits, encourage self-monitoring, and provide daily tips for healthy living.
It is the first such service in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview, the CEO of the UGMC, Dr. Darius Osei stated that due to the burgeoning epidemic of hypertension and diabetes in Ghana and West Africa, the Centre was increasingly seeing relatively young individuals with these chronic diseases which could be fatal if not appropriately managed. “I am excited that our patients, through this partnership with PharmAccess, will have access to world-class medical care in the comfort of their homes and offices” Dr. Osei stated. He further said that “the launch of the NCD Care is a demonstration of the commitment of the Centre to provide world-class patient care by leveraging on digital health technologies and innovations that will make telemedicine affordable and available to all”.
The Medical Director of the UGMC, Dr. Kwame Anim-Boamah, added that based on the massive success of the COVID Connect digital monitoring system which enabled the Centre to manage about 4,000 COVID-19 cases on a remote basis in the heat of the Pandemic, he was confident that the NCD Care service which is being integrated into the Centre’s pre-existing service, had a bigger potential to significantly impact patient care and improve their quality of life.
The Country Director of PharmAccess, Dr. Maxwell Antwi, stated that PharmAccess is committed to ensuring that the NCD Care service helps to lower the cost of care to patients such that socio-economic factors did not become barriers to quality healthcare in Ghana and within the sub-region.
About UGMC
The UGMC is an academic medical centre offering world-class quaternary-level Health Services, Training, and Research in Ghana, West Africa, and beyond.
It is the first such service in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview, the CEO of the UGMC, Dr. Darius Osei stated that due to the burgeoning epidemic of hypertension and diabetes in Ghana and West Africa, the Centre was increasingly seeing relatively young individuals with these chronic diseases which could be fatal if not appropriately managed. “I am excited that our patients, through this partnership with PharmAccess, will have access to world-class medical care in the comfort of their homes and offices” Dr. Osei stated. He further said that “the launch of the NCD Care is a demonstration of the commitment of the Centre to provide world-class patient care by leveraging on digital health technologies and innovations that will make telemedicine affordable and available to all”.
The Medical Director of the UGMC, Dr. Kwame Anim-Boamah, added that based on the massive success of the COVID Connect digital monitoring system which enabled the Centre to manage about 4,000 COVID-19 cases on a remote basis in the heat of the Pandemic, he was confident that the NCD Care service which is being integrated into the Centre’s pre-existing service, had a bigger potential to significantly impact patient care and improve their quality of life.
The Country Director of PharmAccess, Dr. Maxwell Antwi, stated that PharmAccess is committed to ensuring that the NCD Care service helps to lower the cost of care to patients such that socio-economic factors did not become barriers to quality healthcare in Ghana and within the sub-region.
About UGMC
The UGMC is an academic medical centre offering world-class quaternary-level Health Services, Training, and Research in Ghana, West Africa, and beyond.
About PharmAccess
PharmAccess Foundation is a part of the PharmAccess Group. PharmAccess is an international non-profit organization with a digital agenda dedicated to connecting more people in sub-Saharan Africa to better healthcare.
Media Contacts
Marian Opoku -Agyakwa: 0244210870
Alex Attachey: 024 883 8540
Barbara Owusu-Hemeng: 0501187994
Alex Attachey: 024 883 8540
Barbara Owusu-Hemeng: 0501187994
