OBJECTIVES: In the era of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) prevalence, catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) relating to managing hypertension has become a national concern in Ghana. There is limited evidence on CHE pertaining to hypertension in Ghana. This paper aims to evaluate the economic impact of hypertension on individuals and households by measuring catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) related to hypertension care in Ghana.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional catastrophic health expenditure survey on the expenditures of managing hypertension among adults’ patients at Weija Gbewa Municipal Hospital (WGMH) and Shai Osoduko District Hospital (SODH) in Ghana. The study took a patient perspective, collecting direct and non-direct medical expenditure relating to hypertension care from 382 patients. We estimate the incidence, socioeconomic, and demographic correlates associated with the cost of managing hypertension in Ghana. CHE was defined at thresholds of 10% and 40% of the household’s capacity to pay for direct medical and non-direct medical expenditure in the analytical approach.

RESULTS: Our findings show that direct medical expenditure amounts to 25US$ and direct non-medical expenditure amounts to 4US$ per patient per month. CHE was estimated using household income of 10% and 40% capacity to pay reveals that 65% and 58% of the total sample experience catastrophic and impoverished health expenditures. Results from our regression models reveal household size is a significant correlate of catastrophic healthcare payments related to hypertension management and care.

CONCLUSIONS: Financial protection for individuals with hypertension in primary health care facilities in Ghana remains limited despite the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme. The findings suggest a renewed action towards a sustainable health financing mechanism to target individuals with hypertension in Ghana.