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EF: Can you elaborate on the footprint of Roche Ghana And the strategic importance of Ghana for Roche Africa?
KM: In Ghana, Roche has two units: Pharma and Diagnostics. We are in the same office, and this allows us to have synergy. We report different lines, but we work quite closely together. This better positions ourselves when we provide service to the government for example, as we were able to give you a full service from diagnostics all the way all the way to treatment which is very important when you're trying to determine, you know, the health journey of a patient.
From Ghana, we cover all English-speaking Africa outside of Nigeria. This is a region that is not easy to travel through because the nature of traveling in West Africa can be a challenge.
I would like to emphasize the significance of our base in Ghana, particularly in our transition from direct-to-country marketing to a full-fledged presence. By registering as PTY Ltd, we have been able to make a meaningful impact on pricing and the ecosystem around us.
This shift has also enriched our discussions with the government and other stakeholders, allowing us to build a stronger foundation for our future growth. Our location in Ghana remains crucial to our current and future success, as we have established a solid foundation for our operations. Please note that this response maintains the original message while ensuring it is concise, professional, and positive.
EF: Could you elaborate on your priorities for 2024?
KM: Our top priority is addressing breast cancer in Africa, particularly in Ghana. Our strategy is driven by the alarming statistics we've observed. Seven out of ten women in Africa present with stage three breast cancer at diagnosis, making it challenging to treat and cure. This is in contrast to the rest of the world, where early detection and treatment are more effective.
We've also noticed that it takes up to six months for women to receive treatment after diagnosis, which is devastating. Furthermore, our data shows that only 15% of women in Ghana receive the recommended treatment despite the agreements with the Government, which is unacceptable.
Geography plays a significant role in determining health outcomes, and we believe that this is a critical issue that requires a collective effort. Therefore, we are focusing on building an ecosystem with the government, private sector, and other stakeholders to address this challenge. We aim to establish multi-partner agreements to ensure that the health of women is at the forefront of our efforts.
I was recently inspired by a politician who emphasized the importance of humanity and the dignity of human life. His words resonated with me, and I believe that our work should be guided by these principles. This response maintains the original message while ensuring it is concise, professional, and positive. It highlights the key points and emphasizes the importance of collective action in addressing the issue of breast cancer in Africa.
EF: Could you elaborate on the initiatives that you are working on in Ghana particularly, especially with the MOU and how are you leveraging digital solutions to support the healthcare system?
We started a partnership with the Government of Ghana, established through an MOU in 2018-2019. This has been instrumental in our efforts to improve breast cancer care in the country. The agreement includes a discounted price on drugs, which the government provides to women for free, and a commitment to pay for a certain number of treatments over time.
As part of this partnership, we have refurbished cancer centers in Accra and Kumasi, the two largest cities in Ghana, and established new centers in three other provinces: Tamale, Cape Coast, and Ho. Over the next five years, we plan to expand our reach to more remote and underserved areas.
To strengthen the healthcare workforce, we have sponsored the training of 46 nurses, 11 pharmacists, and 4 radiation oncologists in oncology. Additionally, we have partnered with the Ghana Medical Association and College of Physicians and Surgeons to set up a Medical Oncology faculty in Ghana who are being sent to Kenya for specialized training in oncology, with the goal of establishing a faculty upon their return.
We recognize the importance of digital solutions in improving patient care and outcomes. To this end, we are working with the National Health Insurance (NHI) to develop a system that accurately measures the usage of our services and helps them better plan and predict claim patterns.
Furthermore, we are collaborating with a partner called Embrace Society to implement a digital navigation system that helps track patients who have dropped out of the healthcare system. This system will use reminders and support, such as transportation assistance, to ensure that patients continue to access the necessary services.
We are committed to overcoming the challenges posed by compliance and ethics in implementing these digital solutions. Our team is dedicated to mapping out the logistics and ensuring that these initiatives are executed effectively in Ghana.
By leveraging our AI capabilities, we aim to measure the insights provided by doctors and use them to improve our services and patient outcomes. We believe that our partnership with the Government of Ghana and our focus on digital solutions will significantly impact breast cancer care in the country. This response maintains the key points of the original interview while ensuring it is concise, professional, and positive. It highlights the partnership with the Government of Ghana, the expansion of cancer care services, workforce development initiatives, and the implementation of digital solutions to improve patient care and outcomes.
