Lupus Advocates Push Parliament for Better Patient Support
Ghanaian lupus advocates visited Parliament to urge for increased national support. The Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation led the delegation, highlighting the challenges patients face with diagnosis, treatment costs, and access to care. They aim to place autoimmune diseases higher on the national health agenda, seeking policy changes and improved healthcare financing. One patient reported treatment costs exceeding GHS 30,000 every few months, illustrating the severe financial burden.
Lupus advocates have brought their fight for better patient support directly to Ghana's Parliament. The Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation led a delegation of patients and their supporters to the nation's legislative body. Their core aim is to elevate lupus and other autoimmune diseases on Ghana's national health agenda. This move seeks to secure stronger policy support and improve healthcare access for those affected.
The visit focused on the significant challenges faced by people living with lupus in Ghana. Advocacy efforts aim to highlight the difficulties patients encounter in getting diagnosed and affording treatment. The Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation is collaborating with Parliament on this mission. They want to ensure better public awareness and policy backing for these chronic conditions. This engagement follows a World Lupus Day observance in May 2025. During that event, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings called for improved healthcare financing. She specifically mentioned the National Health Insurance Scheme.
This advocacy aligns with Ghana's broader efforts to manage chronic illnesses. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1144) now recognizes autoimmune diseases as chronic conditions. This inclusion was the result of earlier parliamentary advocacy. The Foundation stated that this recognition is a crucial step forward. However, patient experiences reveal ongoing struggles. The cost of treatment, which can exceed GHS 30,000 every few months for some, pushes many families into hardship. Limited access to specialist care and a scarcity of rheumatology services further complicate matters.
During the parliamentary visit, advocates shared personal stories of the physical, emotional, and financial toll of lupus. One patient movingly described the immense struggle to afford essential medications. They noted that no family member could cover the GHS 30,000 treatment cost over a short period. The Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation emphasized that such testimonies underscore the critical need for accessible, life-saving treatments. Despite a growing number of affected individuals, public understanding of lupus remains low. This leads to delayed or incorrect diagnoses for many.
Emma Halm, Executive Director of the Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation, expressed gratitude to Parliament for their collaboration. She reaffirmed the Foundation's dedication to ensuring lupus patients are not forgotten. "Our goal is clear: to place autoimmunity on Ghana’s national agenda and to secure healthcare equity for people living with lupus and related conditions," Halm stated. She highlighted the urgent need for access to diagnosis, treatment support, psychosocial care, and livelihood opportunities. The Foundation plans to continue engaging with policymakers, health institutions, and development partners. Their objective is to build a more responsive healthcare system for thousands of Ghanaian families.
Source: StatsGH — Ghana's data-driven news platform