Joint Venture Overview
CARE9 Global has entered into a Joint Venture with the Ministry of Defence, Government of Ghana, to develop and implement a PPP-led oncology and specialty healthcare platform.
This partnership brings together Ghana’s sovereign institutional capacity and CARE9’s integrated healthcare infrastructure, pharmaceutical supply chain, and digital health capabilities to build a comprehensive cancer and multi-specialty healthcare facility that addresses one of the country’s most critical healthcare gaps.
The facility will serve as CARE9’s anchor deployment and proof-of-concept model for the phased rollout of similar healthcare infrastructure across additional jurisdictions in the ECOWAS region and beyond.
Why This Matters: Ghana’s Cancer Crisis in Numbers
Ghana faces one of the most severe oncology capacity gaps on the African continent. The numbers tell the story clearly:
- 24,000+ new cancer cases diagnosed annually, with numbers projected to double by 2040
- 15,800+ cancer deaths per year (GLOBOCAN)
- Only 15 radiation oncologists serving a population of 33 million
- 3 radiotherapy centers in the entire country (2 public, 1 private)
- Less than 50% of patients who need radiation treatment actually complete it
- Only 23% of breast cancer patients requiring radiotherapy receive it
- 70% of cancers detected at stage 3 or 4 due to limited screening infrastructure
- Zero radiotherapy access in Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions, forcing patients to travel 400 to 600 kilometers for treatment
Ghana has no standalone comprehensive cancer centre today. The cost of a single course of cancer treatment ranges from $5,000 to $50,000, far exceeding household incomes, and 40% of patients with treatable cancers travel to South Africa, India, or Europe for care.
The Joint Venture Partners
Ministry of Defence, Government of Ghana
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the sovereign institutional partner in this Joint Venture. Through the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited (DIHOC), the MOD’s corporate vehicle for industrial development and public-private partnerships, the Government of Ghana provides sovereign institutional backing, land access, regulatory pathway facilitation, and integration with the national military healthcare network, including the 400 bed 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are actively involved as co-developers, bringing institutional capacity in construction, security, and operational management. GAF presented detailed proposals for the oncology facilities during the formal engagement, positioning this project within Ghana’s broader defence industrial strategy.
CARE9 Global
CARE9 brings the clinical architecture, pharmaceutical supply chain, technology platform, and operational expertise. As a vertically integrated healthcare infrastructure company operating across Africa, Latin America, and Europe, CARE9 delivers the technical execution capacity that transforms sovereign intent into operational healthcare facilities.
The Facility: Comprehensive Cancer and Multi-Specialty Healthcare
Clinical Architecture
Radiation Oncology (40% of operational capacity)
- 2 Linear Accelerators (LINACs) with IMRT/VMAT capabilities for complex tumor treatment
- Brachytherapy units for gynecological and urological cancers
- Treatment planning systems with 3D imaging and dose optimization
- Radiopharmacy for isotope handling and quality control
- Shielded radiation protection zones meeting IAEA standards
Medical Oncology (35% of capacity)
- 50+ chemotherapy day care chairs with infusion protocols and patient monitoring
- Oncology ICU for managing treatment complications
- Bone marrow transplant unit for blood cancers
- Palliative care ward providing symptom management and end of life care
- Cytotoxic drug reconstitution suite with isolation and safety protocols
Surgical Oncology (15% of capacity)
- Dedicated oncology operation theaters with intraoperative imaging
- Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery capabilities
- Reconstructive surgery units (breast, head and neck)
- 24/7 emergency oncology services
Diagnostic and Laboratory (20% of functions)
- PET-CT and 3T MRI for precision staging and treatment planning
- Molecular oncology labs with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
- Liquid biopsy capabilities for monitoring treatment response
- Immunohistochemistry and advanced pathology for tumor characterization
- AI-enabled image analysis for radiomics and early detection
Digital Integration via CARE9 HIMS
- Complete electronic medical records and e-prescriptions
- Tele-oncology platform for rural consultations and international collaboration
- National cancer registry for epidemiological research and policy planning
- Mobile screening units for community-based early detection programs
Oncology Drug Supply Chain
A critical component is CARE9’s vertical integration of oncology pharmaceuticals, ensuring uninterrupted supply of cancer medicines, which is typically Ghana’s most significant procurement challenge.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
- Partnership with WHO-GMP, USFDA, and EMA certified manufacturers in India, Europe, and ASEAN
- Dedicated supply agreements for high-cost molecules: trastuzumab, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, pemetrexed
- In-house CDMO capabilities for critical generic oncology injectables
- Access to donor-funded pipelines (Global Fund, GAVI, UNITAID)
Delivery and Traceability
- CARE9 Verified platform ensuring batch-level traceability from manufacturer to patient
- Cold chain storage (2-8C and -20C) with remote temperature monitoring
- AI-driven inventory planning linked to prescription loads and patient outcomes
- 100% stock availability commitment backed by performance-linked SLAs
Financial Model
- Long-term procurement agreements (LTPAs) with Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)
- Integration with government healthcare financing programmes for cancer patients
- Blended payment model: national insurance and government programmes cover the majority of costs, with institutional support filling gaps
- Outcomes-linked pricing for new molecular therapies
- Donor support for uninsured patients requiring life-saving drugs
Workforce Development and Knowledge Transfer
Infrastructure without expertise fails. The partnership includes comprehensive capacity building:
Oncology Fellowship Programs
- 2 year Indo-African fellowship for 15 to 20 Ghanaian physicians in Medical, Radiation, and Surgical Oncology
- Rotations through leading centers in India and internationally recognized programs
- Return-of-service agreements ensuring Fellows work at the facility for a minimum of 5 years
Specialist Training
- Nursing specialization in cancer care and chemotherapy administration
- Radiotherapy technician certification with hands-on LINAC training
- Pathology and molecular diagnostics training for lab staff
- Hospital management and administrative leadership programs
Research Capacity
- Clinical trial design and real-world evidence generation
- Molecular oncology and translational research methods
- Health economics and outcomes research to support local policy
Training Impact (Target by 2030)
- 20+ Oncologists trained in Ghana
- 200+ Nursing and technical staff certified in oncology care
- 500+ Healthcare workers across regional hospitals trained in supportive care
- 10+ Indigenous clinical trials launched
Patient Impact and Clinical Outcomes
Projected Annual Services (at full operation)
- 100,000+ cancer patients screened via mobile units and community programs
- 10,000+ new cancer cases treated per year
- 250+ oncology beds operational with approximately 90% average occupancy
- 1,000+ direct jobs created (physicians, nurses, technicians, support staff)
- 1,500+ indirect jobs in supply chain, logistics, security, and facilities
Medical Outcomes Targets
- 80%+ of cases diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 (compared to 30% baseline in Ghana)
- 30-40% reduction in outbound medical travel
- 5 year survival rates approaching international standards (70%+ for treatable cancers)
- Zero catastrophic out-of-pocket costs for insured patients
Government Tailwinds
This JV lands at the most favorable moment in Ghana’s healthcare history:
- 2026 health budget: GHS 34 billion, described by the Health Minister as “the most health-centred budget yet”
- Free Primary Healthcare Programme launched April 15, 2026, targeting 35% of Ghanaians outside NHIS
- Government healthcare financing programmes specifically target cancer and NCDs with dedicated funding
- NHIS surpassed 20 million active members in November 2025
- GHS 2 billion committed to healthcare infrastructure investment through 2028
- India and Ghana bilateral trade exceeded $3 billion in the first half of 2025, with India already exporting $219.6 million in pharmaceuticals to Ghana annually
Regional Expansion
The Ghana facility serves as the flagship for West African expansion:
Phase 2: ECOWAS Hub Network
- Lagos, Nigeria: 300 bed comprehensive oncology center
- Oncology hubs in Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal
- Regional diagnostic networks supporting primary and secondary care
Phase 3: Pan-African Expansion
- East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania)
- Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia)
- Target: 1,000+ oncology beds operational across 6+ countries
What Makes This JV Different
Most healthcare partnerships in Africa follow one of two patterns: short-term aid projects that leave when funding ends, or private ventures that serve only those who can pay. This JV breaks both patterns.
Sovereign institutional partner (Ministry of Defence): The facility is backed by the Government of Ghana through its defence establishment, providing land, regulatory pathway, security, and long-term institutional continuity that outlasts any single administration.
Government payor integration: Cancer patients will access treatment through national insurance and government financing programmes, not out of pocket. This is the difference between a hospital that treats 500 wealthy patients and one that treats 10,000.
Vertically integrated operations (CARE9): From pharmaceutical sourcing to clinical delivery to digital health platforms, the facility does not depend on fragmented third-party supply chains that fail at the worst moments.
Transfer by design: The BOOT model builds permanent local capacity. Ghanaian physicians trained, Ghanaian institutions strengthened, Ghanaian ownership at the end of the concession period.
The Broader Impact
Within five years, a Ghanaian patient diagnosed with cancer will receive world-class treatment without having to leave the country. Within ten years, Ghana will export oncology expertise to the rest of West Africa.
This is not charity. This is sovereign healthcare infrastructure built through strategic partnership, financed sustainably, and designed to outlast its founders.
CARE9 is proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Defence, Government of Ghana in this transformation.
Contact: For partnerships, procurement, or program inquiries: Email: info@care9.com