Ghana is exploring local and regional production of HIV medicines and other essential health commodities to reduce dependence on international supply chains and strengthen the sustainability of its national HIV response.
The initiative is intended to protect the country’s access to essential medicines and health products against disruptions in global supply chains and fluctuations in external health financing.
Dr Alhaji Abubakar Wayo, Chief Director at the Office of the President, announced the initiative at the 15th National HIV and AIDS Partnership Forum in Accra on Thursday.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic and growing pressures on global health financing had exposed the risks associated with heavy reliance on international sources for essential health commodities.
The government, he said, would consider evidence-based proposals for domestic and regional production of HIV medicines, diagnostic products and other essential supplies.
“Local production should complement, rather than disrupt, access to quality-assured commodities already available through established procurement arrangements,” he said.
Dr Wayo called on government agencies, research institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulators and development partners to identify viable opportunities for local manufacturing.
He said sustaining Ghana’s HIV response after four decades of progress would require stronger domestic financing, improved national capacity and continued collaboration among government institutions, development partners, healthcare professionals and civil society organisations.
The need to strengthen the response is underscored by national estimates showing that Ghana recorded 13,951 new HIV infections and 12,051 AIDS-related deaths in 2025, while an estimated 337,435 people were living with HIV.
Dr Wayo said the figures highlighted the importance of maintaining reliable supplies of HIV medicines while expanding prevention programmes to reduce new infections.
He advocated wider access to voluntary HIV testing, self-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and accurate health information, particularly for young people.
He also called for stronger interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission, stressing that pregnant women living with HIV must receive timely treatment and support.
People who test positive, he added, should be promptly linked to appropriate care and supported to remain on treatment.
On financing, Dr Wayo advocated innovative funding mechanisms, responsible private-sector contributions and increased government budgetary allocations to sustain HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services.
He also urged ministries, departments and agencies to integrate relevant HIV interventions into their policies, programmes and budgets.
Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, he said, should incorporate HIV interventions into local development plans and community programmes, while traditional authorities, religious leaders, educational institutions and civil society organisations should support public education and access to services.
He further urged businesses to introduce workplace HIV awareness and wellness programmes, protect employees’ confidentiality and adopt policies against discrimination.
Dr Wayo said regular monitoring of prevention, testing, treatment continuity and viral suppression was necessary to measure progress, alongside efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission and reduce stigma and discrimination.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening national ownership of the HIV response and working with stakeholders to help end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The 15th National HIV and AIDS Partnership Forum was held under the theme, “40 Years of HIV Response in Ghana: Celebrating Partnerships, Transforming Lives, Sustaining the Future”.
The forum brought together stakeholders to assess progress in the country’s HIV response and explore strategies for mobilising resources to sustain the gains made over the past four decades.
Citinewsroom.com
