By Iddi Yire
Accra, April 29, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama in fulfillment of campaign promise to Ghanaians on Tuesday launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares), as part of efforts to relieve the financial burden of sufferers of chronic diseases.
The launch, which took place at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), Accra, saw the President donating his six months’ salary to the Fund.
It will support specialist-level treatment for a range of chronic diseases, including cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failure, stroke, and other complications.
Support from the Fund would be based on formal applications, carefully vetted, and would focus on costs not currently covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Fund’s main source of finance will come from the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), the uncapped portion of the NHIL.
It will also include direct budgetary support from governments, voluntary contributions from corporates, institutions, and individuals, grants, donations, and it will also be able to invest to raise investment income.
The President said Mahama Cares launch was a landmark initiative introduced by his government to decisively confront the growing burden of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
He said the fight against NCDs was intrinsically linked to their broader national development agenda, particularly the sustainable development goals, and most notably, Sustainable Development Goal Three (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
He noted that specifically, under SDG 3, Target 3.4 commits the global community to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030 through prevention, treatment, and promotion of mental health and well-being.
President Mahama reiterated that across the globe, NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, and mental health disorders, remain the leading cause of mortality, accounting for over 43 million deaths annually worldwide.
He said worryingly, the burden was disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries, such as Ghana, posing not only a public health crisis, but also a profound social and economic threat.
President Mahama said NCDs exacerbate poverty, they widen social inequality, and undermine economic development; adding that vulnerable populations, especially those with lower education, limited access to health care, and lower income levels were currently most at risk.
The President said addressing the NCDs menace was therefore not merely a health imperative, stating that it was essential for advancing economic growth, promoting social justice, and securing environmental sustainability.
He said NCDs consistently rank among the top 10 causes of death nationwide; stating that “even more disturbing is the steep rise in hospitalized cancer cases, which jumped from 3,487 patients in 2012 to 16,105 in 2016”.
He said alarmingly, adults aged from 18 to 45, the prime of the nation’s workforce, account for more than half of these cases, 16,000 cases.
“This troubling trend is driven by a convergence of factors. One, shifting lifestyles characterized by things like tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and sedentary behavior. And, increased environmental factors,” the President said.
“The cost of treatment is not just disturbing. It can be devastating for low-income families. Estimates from our teaching hospitals reveal that the average annual cost of non-communicable disease treatment per patient, averagely, stands at GH¢53,000 annually. And that’s equivalent to about 3,300 US dollars.”
He said managing chronic conditions imposes crushing financial burdens on families, often pushing them below the poverty line, and deepening their vulnerability.
“It is estimated that individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases face a 75 per cent likelihood of falling into poverty within five years, regardless of their original economic standing,” President Mahama.
“And so, it even ruins rich people. I mean, you spend all your money trying to find a cure.”
He said those battling kidney and cardiovascular diseases were reported to spend between 70 per cent and 95 per cent of their non-food expenditure on health care alone.
The President said older adults living with chronic conditions spend five times more on health care than their healthier counterparts.
He said despite the important strides made through the National Health Insurance Scheme; it remains inadequate in fully covering NCD-related services and medications.
Citing that in 2018, around 48 per cent of all NHIS claims were related to NCDs, yet essential services remain outside the NHIS coverage, leaving families dangerously exposed to out-of-pocket payments.
“It is against this background that shortly after my election as president, I directed the Honorable Minister for Health to initiate the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, a commitment captured faithfully in the 2024 People’s Manifesto of the National Democratic Congress,” the President said.
President Mahama further lauded Reverend Emeritus Professor Seth Aryeetey, the Chair of the National Task Force for the establishment of the Mahama Cares for fulfilling their mandate.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to achieving universal health coverage for the people of Ghana.
He said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund aligns strategically with their key sectorial policy frameworks including the National Health Policy 2020, Ghana’s Roadmap for Attaining Universal Health Coverage 2020 to 2023, 2020 to 2030, the Essential Health Services Package 2022 to 2030, and the National Policy on Non-Communicable Disease 2022.
He noted the Fund not only provides a long overdue lifeline to those bedded by chronic illness, but also positions Ghana as a leader in innovative, people-centered, and compassionate healthcare reform.
Mr Akandoh said the Bill for the Mahama Cares Fund would be placed before Parliament upon its resumption from recess.
Rev Emeritus Prof Aryettey, who underscored the need to as many Ghanaians as possible to support the Fund, presented a check of $1,000.00 in support of the Fund.
Dr Kwame Anim-Boamah, the Chief Executive Officer of UGMC, who on behalf of the Centre made a pledge of GH¢100,000.00 to the Fund, also lauded the President for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.
GNA
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