President John Dramani Mahama launched the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, sometimes referred to as “Mahama Cares,” on March 12, 2025, to offer financial assistance to those afflicted with long-term illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and kidney failure.
By providing financial assistance to those who are impacted, the support will lessen the financial burden of chronic illness treatment.
Additionally, it will improve people with chronic illnesses’ access to essential medical therapies.
In his capacity as the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Koku Awoonor emphasized the initiative’s potential to alleviate the financial and psychological burden that non-communicable diseases place on families during the inaugural event in Accra.
He underlined that families are severely impacted by these illnesses, and the fund represents a novel strategy for increasing access to treatment.
Non-communicable diseases make up 42% of all deaths in Ghana, according to Health Minister Kwabena Minta Akandoh. Cardiovascular diseases make up 90% of these instances, while cancers make up 5%.
He noted that if therapy were more widely available and reasonably priced, many of these fatalities may be avoided. The Minister acknowledged the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), but said that many specialized treatments are not covered by it. Mahama Cares seeks to close this gap by providing financial support to people who are dealing with chronic illnesses.
In order to guarantee successful execution, the government established the Mahama Cares Technical Taskforce, which is led by former College of Health Sciences provost Reverend Professor Emeritus Seth Aryeetey.
“MahamaCares” Will Offer Ghana’s Highest-quality And Most Accessible Healthcare..
This group of professionals is in charge of formulating funding plans, establishing eligibility requirements for recipients, and drafting rules. According to Prof. Aryeetey, the program would give relief and hope to individuals reliant on dialysis or chemotherapy, and it would be a game-changer for families facing exorbitant treatment expenses.
The government has urged companies, civil society, and foreign partners to support Mahama Cares, stressing that the initiative’s success depends on substantial financial support and professional input.
This program demonstrates the government’s dedication to enhancing healthcare accessibility and lowering the costs related to treating chronic illnesses in Ghana.
