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In an age where health data is collected through mobile apps, wearables, and digital health records, a critical question arises: Who owns your health data?
In Ghana, the rise of digital health platforms has brought this question into focus. Platforms like Mutti Doctor and various public health surveillance systems collect sensitive data on patients—names, symptoms, diagnoses, prescriptions. While this data is essential for providing care, it is also a valuable asset. It can be used to improve AI systems, train predictive models, or, in some cases, sold to third parties.
Ghana’s Data Protection Act offers a legal framework, but enforcement is inconsistent. Many health platforms do not clearly state how data is stored, for how long, or with whom it is shared. Patients often agree to terms without understanding the implications.
In our research at Veebeckz Tech Hub, we discovered that some digital tools used in health settings store data in cloud services located outside Ghana. This raises jurisdictional challenges: if your data is stored in Europe or the U.S., which laws apply if it’s leaked or misused?
There’s also the issue of consent. In many rural clinics, patients are registered digitally without any discussion about data use. Consent becomes implicit and non-informed. This violates both ethical standards and human rights.
We need stronger policies, more transparency from platform developers, and public education on digital rights. Health data should empower people, not expose them.