Ghana faced a potential nationwide shortage of HIV testing kits by the end of July, health supply chain experts warned. The shortage, affecting both blood-based and oral self-testing kits, was linked to delays in funding and procurement cycles, officials said.
The current stock of HIV testing kits and reagents in Ghana is projected to last only until the end of July, after which testing services could face significant disruption if new supplies are not procured and delivered, health supply chain stakeholders told MyJoyOnline. The shortage is expected to affect both blood-based rapid diagnostic tests used in health facilities and oral self-testing kits, potentially impacting multiple testing modalities simultaneously. Officials linked the looming shortfall to delays and uncertainties in funding and procurement cycles, particularly following cuts in international donor support for HIV commodities.
Between August 2023 and February 2024, 435 containers of Global Fund–supported HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria commodities arrived at Tema Port, but 182 containers remained uncleared for months, according to the Global Fund OIG report.
The Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (GHANET) has publicly urged the government to adequately resource the National HIV and AIDS Fund amid declining donor support, warning that shortages of test kits and other commodities could undermine ongoing HIV programmes. GHANET Vice President Victoria Araba Dennis emphasized the critical role of sustained kit supply during recent distribution activities targeting men, highlighting vulnerabilities if supplies falter. Meanwhile, the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has documented systemic challenges in procurement and port clearance, noting that delays at Tema Port have disrupted the regular availability of HIV commodities in Ghana.
This backlog included rapid diagnostic test kits and other essential supplies, leading the Global Fund to suspend further shipments until earlier consignments were cleared. The Ministry of Health spokesperson, Isaac Ofei Baah, stated that remaining containers would be cleared by April 12, 2024, following engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Finance Ministry.
Funding pressures have also contributed to the risk of shortages. UNAIDS has documented cuts in US funding to HIV programmes, which have reduced resources available for HIV commodities in Ghana. The Clinton Health Access Initiative noted that test kit shortages are among the consequences of the ongoing HIV funding crisis affecting several countries, including Ghana, with reductions in community testing and pediatric services. The Global Fund OIG report further highlighted how customs delays exacerbate procurement challenges, creating a fragile supply chain environment where any delay in new deliveries could lead to stock exhaustion by the end of a given month.
If the projected shortage materializes, it could directly limit new HIV diagnoses, undermining Ghana’s progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which rely on widespread testing. Early diagnosis enables prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and interrupted testing services could delay treatment for newly infected individuals and those requiring confirmatory tests, increasing the risk of onward transmission. The Clinton Health Access Initiative reported that, amid the funding crisis, 26,000 fewer children were on HIV treatment by the end of 2025, partly due to test kit shortages and reduced pediatric services. Facility-level studies in Ghana have shown that availability of testing services is a critical entry point to care, with shortages of rapid diagnostic tests associated with reduced testing coverage and missed opportunities in antenatal and outpatient settings.
Ghana has implemented HIV self-testing pilots using oral self-test kits from March 2021 to June 2023, distributing more than 200,000 kits free of charge through health facilities and community channels. The Accra Mayor and partners have promoted new HIV self-testing sticks, which can be ordered online and delivered free to households, creating additional demand streams that require steady kit supply. In July 2025, GHANET reported distributing 48,580 HIV test kits to men, reaching 63% of a target of 77,665, illustrating the scale of civil society-led testing efforts dependent on steady availability. The Ghana Health Service’s HIV Testing Implementation Guide outlines broad use of rapid diagnostic tests and self-tests across provider-initiated testing, antenatal clinics, key populations, and community campaigns, meaning any shortage would affect multiple programme streams.
In response to the emerging risk, media coverage aims to prompt urgent policy action, including accelerated procurement, budget releases, and emergency shipments. GHANET has called on the government to operationalize and sufficiently fund the National HIV and AIDS Fund to stabilize supplies amid declining donor support. The Global Fund and UN partners have emphasized the need for efficient customs and clearance processes at Tema Port to prevent future bottlenecks. UNAIDS data from early 2025 showed that OraQuick HIV test kit availability rose from 91% in January to 100% in February, with 4.93 months of stock, illustrating that sustained monitoring and stock management can help anticipate and avert shortages.
Broader supply chain challenges persist in Ghana, with delays and shortages of antiretroviral medicines and other HIV commodities linked to customs and tax waiver issues. The Africa Report noted that vital medical supplies worth over US$45 million, including anti-HIV medicines and rapid diagnostic test kits, were held at Tema Port until April 2024, creating an imminent health crisis. Only 253 of 435 containers with HIV, TB, and malaria commodities were cleared between August 2023 and February 2024, leaving 182 containers stranded, according to Global Fund records. These clearance and funding issues, combined with declining donor support, heighten the risk that HIV test kit stocks could run out by the end of July, officials said.
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