President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, dubbed “MahamaCares,” to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.
During the launch ceremony in Accra on Tuesday, the president disclosed that NCDs account for over 40% of all deaths in Ghana and consistently rank among the top 10 causes of mortality nationwide.
“Across the globe, non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, and mental health disorders remain the leading cause of mortality,” he stated.
The president noted that the fund requires approximately three billion Ghana cedis annually over its initial three years.
He said the initiative would be primarily financed through uncapped portions of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), with additional funding from government budgetary support, voluntary contributions, grants, and investment income.
President Mahama explained that the fund would support specialist-level treatment for various chronic conditions including cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and stroke.
“The Ghana Medical Trust Fund will operate as an independent statutory trust, governed by a board of trustees, and supported by a dedicated administrative secretariat, third-party administrators, and patient navigators,” he said.
The president also revealed that a draft bill for the initiative is ready and will be presented to Parliament when it reconvenes at the end of next month.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
