Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, aimed at easing the financial burden of patients of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The flagship healthcare intervention widely known as Mahama Cares is designed to cover the cost of treatment of chronic diseases, including kidney and liver issues, cancers, and heart conditions, and improve access to healthcare for patients with such conditions.
Launching the fund, Mahama said the initiative would introduce a new era into chronic disease care in Ghana.
He added that NCDs were affecting Ghana’s population at an alarming rate, noting that adults between the ages of 18 and 45, who represent the prime of the country’s workforce, are the most affected.
Available data indicate that NCDs account for over 40 percent of all age category deaths and consistently rank among the top 10 causes of death nationwide, said the president.
“Even more disturbing is a steep rise in hospitalized cancer cases, which jumped from 3,487 patients in 2012 to 16,105 in 2016. Vulnerable populations, that is, those with lower education, limited access to health care, and lower income levels, are those most at risk,” Mahama noted.
The president added that the cost of treatment is not just disturbing. It can be devastating for low-income families.
Addressing the NCD menace is, therefore, not merely a health imperative. It is essential for advancing economic growth, promoting social justice, and securing environmental sustainability, said Mahama.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today, we are launching more than just a health initiative. We are launching hope for thousands of Ghanaians living with chronic diseases,” he said.
“We are launching hope for families battling the overwhelming cost of care, and hope for a future where the quality of life is not determined by one’s ability to pay for essential treatment,” Mahama added.
He said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund would support specialist-level treatment for a range of chronic diseases, including cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failure, stroke, and other complications.
The president pledged six months of his salary as president as seed money, adding that part of the National Health Insurance Funds would be freed as the main source of financing for the fund.
UNICEF Ghana Chief of Health and Nutrition Manuel Dewez, who spoke on behalf of development partners, lauded the Ghanaian government for the thoughtful initiative, which is in line with the vision of most health development partners.
This is the way to ensure Ghanaians have access to quality healthcare services. NCDs are a major public health challenge that undermines social and economic development and can increase inequities within populations, added Dewez. “However, as always, sustainable financing remains a major challenge and requires innovative thinking. We commend the uncapping of the national health insurance levy for this purpose,” he added.