Ghana Health Service's electronic systems shut down over US$64,510 cloud hosting bill
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) suspended access to its electronic health information systems nationwide after its cloud hosting provider shut down servers over an outstanding bill of US$64,510.
In Brief
- •The Ghana Health Service (GHS) suspended access to its electronic health information systems nationwide after its cloud hosting provider shut down servers over an outstanding bill of US$64,510.
- •The shutdown, effective October 29, 2026, affected multiple digital systems including DHIMS2, PBMIS, and various health tracking platforms.
- •Health facilities have been directed to use paper-based reporting systems to prevent data gaps until services are restored.
- •The GHS is seeking approval for a US$64,510 payment to reinstate the Akamai account, which would restore systems to their previous state.
- •The Director-General of GHS assured that there was no security breach or data loss, with nightly encrypted backups available.
Why It Matters
The shutdown of Ghana's health information systems has disrupted critical health data management and reporting, potentially impacting public health monitoring and decision-making. The reliance on paper-based systems temporarily increases the risk of data inaccuracies and delays in reporting. The financial and operational challenges faced by the GHS highlight the broader issues of digital infrastructure sustainability and funding in the health sector. This incident underscores the importance of robust backup systems and contingency planning in critical digital services.
Key Details
- Shutdown Date
- October 29, 2026
- Outstanding Bill Amount
- US$64,510
- Systems Affected
- DHIMS2, PBMIS, eTracker, FPHC platform, OTSS assessments, NCD tracker, HIV and tuberculosis trackers, ISRS sample tracker, NMDR, Events system, SMS alerts, transport system, CHIM portal
- Backup Status
- Nightly encrypted backups available, no data loss
- Restoration Options
- Reinstate Akamai account or procure new servers and rebuild systems
Context & Background
The Ghana Health Service has been increasingly reliant on digital health information systems for data management and reporting. The use of cloud hosting services has become a standard practice, but the financial sustainability of these services remains a challenge.
Original Reporting & Sources
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