For the first time, Ghana has completed a comprehensive review of how health facilities deliver clinical care—an exercise that will transform how services are improved for millions of people.

The Quality of Care Review, a module of the Harmonized Health Facility Assessment (HHFA), was carried out by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ghana Health Service (GHS), with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and funding from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UKFCDO).

The nationwide review assessed 1,651 health facilities across all 16 regions, ranging from regional hospitals to Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, to examine how well providers adhered to national and international clinical standards in six critical service areas: antenatal care, tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria in children under five.

Given that Ghana has over 10,000 health facilities—of which more than 7,000 are CHPS compounds—it is important to note that the review included all regional hospitals, all district hospitals, all polyclinics, and over 60% of health centres, as well as selected private facilities. CHPS compounds were sampled to provide a representative picture of the situation nationwide.

To conduct the review, 48 assessors—clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospital administrators, and health information officers—were trained and deployed across the country. The assessors were tasked to go through patient records to see how care was delivered in real-life practice.

 “Facilities were largely welcoming and cooperative. They readily provided access to client records, allowing teams to complete reviews on time and with minimal disruption”, said, Dr Oduro Mensah Deputy director Clinical Care Greater Accra region who was also an assessor.

With WHO technical support, data was collected on tablets using the Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro), synchronized in real time, and validated through national and regional workshops. This ensured accuracy and efficiency, while also building digital data skills that Ghana can use well beyond this exercise.

The completion of the QoC Record Review has produced outcomes that extend well beyond data collection. For the first time, Ghana has a nationally validated dataset capturing adherence to clinical care standards across six priority service areas, offering a clear picture of how services are delivered and where improvements are most needed. Just as importantly, the process built lasting national and regional capacity, with teams of clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, and health information officers now equipped with skills in clinical record review, digital data management, and supervisory oversight. The use of WHO’s digital CSPro tablets enhanced efficiency by reducing errors, enabling real-time monitoring, and setting a new benchmark for large-scale health assessments, while rigorous documentation of lessons learned ensures that knowledge is preserved and shared across regions. Together, these achievements lay a solid foundation for evidence-based dialogue on quality of care, shaping decision-making, strengthening supervision, and positioning Ghana as a regional leader in using evidence to drive continuous service delivery improvements. 

The next step is to move from reviewing records to driving change. In September 2025, technical experts will begin analyzing the data and translating it into insights for programmes and decision-makers. A national report, fact sheets, and programme-specific briefs will be launched in November 2025.

The findings will not stay on paper—they will directly feed into health sector reviews, policy dialogue, and reforms aimed at ensuring better quality services for mothers, children, and communities across Ghana.

Reflecting on the process, WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Fiona Braka, said, “This exercise demonstrates what is possible when national leadership and global support come together with a shared purpose. WHO is proud to stand with Ghana as it uses evidence to drive improvements in the quality of care for its people.”

By completing the QoC Record Review, Ghana has positioned itself as a regional leader in evidence-driven quality improvement. The lessons, tools, and skilled workforce developed through this process will not only benefit Ghana but also contribute to knowledge-sharing across Africa.

With strong national ownership, the support of partners, and the commitment of frontline health workers, Ghana is taking bold steps to ensure that every patient receives the quality care they deserve.

For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Abdul-Lahie Abdul-Rahim Naa
Communications Officer
WHO Ghana Country Office
Email: abdullahiea [at] who.int (abdullahiea[at]who[dot]int)
Tel: +233 20 196 2393