GHS Holds Talks With Ghana Medical Trust Fund Prior to Free Primary Healthcare Rollout

The Management of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has held a high-level engagement with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), also known as MahamaCares, as part of preparations toward the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) initiative.

The meeting was used to deepen collaboration, clarify operational linkages, and strengthen coordination for improved healthcare delivery across the country.

Delivering opening remarks, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, underscored the importance of teamwork and effective communication in achieving excellence in service delivery.

He urged both institutions to “see each other as a team” and work deliberately to eliminate communication gaps.

He further reminded participants that healthcare delivery is a shared responsibility, noting that “we are all patients at one point in time.”

Dr Akoriyea described the meeting as a critical platform for mutual understanding of roles, aligning expectations, and building stronger institutional bonds to support the successful implementation of national health priorities.

He also apprised the GMTF team of the Service’s operational framework to enhance their appreciation.

The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku, introduced the Fund and outlined its mandate, emphasising its focus on investing in healthcare interventions within Ghana.

She clarified that the Fund does not support medical procedures conducted outside the country, reiterating its commitment to strengthening in-country capacity.

A detailed presentation by Dr Norbert Kipo, Policy Advisor to the Fund, highlighted the GTMF’s scope of operations, governance arrangements, and funding disbursement mechanisms, noting that geographical equity remains central to the Fund’s operations, with deliberate efforts to improve health outcomes across all regions.

Dr Kipo further elaborated on the application processes, safeguards against fraud, and quality assurance measures underpinning the Fund’s operations.

He also outlined the specialist benefits package and the payment mechanisms available under the initiative, stressing the critical role of clinicians in the successful rollout.

As part of its pilot interventions, the Fund has established three advanced catheterisation laboratories and undertaken assessments to identify resource gaps and real-time operational challenges. Additionally, medical equipment, including dialysis machines, has been distributed to selected health facilities nationwide.

The Fund has also partnered with key professional bodies, including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (GCNM), and the Pharmacy Council (GCP), to train 100 specialist health professionals countrywide.

So far, the pilot phase has supported 50 medical cases across 13 regions and 11 hospitals, with an expenditure of approximately GH¢4 million.

Dr Kipo announced that the Fund is set for official rollout later this April, anchored on three core operational pillars: an integrated IT platform, standardised costing and billing systems, and the deployment of patient navigators.

In his response, the Director-General acknowledged areas of divergence between the two institutions, particularly on advanced specialist training, and called for further consultations to identify synergies and optimise outcomes.

He emphasised the need to strategically position health facilities as centres of excellence based on prevailing disease burdens.

Dr Akoriyea also commended the GMTF team’s progress and extended an invitation to participate in the upcoming Senior Managers’ Meeting.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for Regional Directors to raise critical implementation concerns, including facility accreditation and enrollment, financial sustainability, and the maintenance of medical equipment.

They further recommended additional areas such as palliative care, rehabilitation services, organ donation, and transplantation.

Regional Directors offered to support sensitisation efforts through their upcoming mid-year review meetings, among other dissemination platforms.

While responding to the issues raised, the GMTF team provided clarifications and assurances, reaffirming its commitment to working closely with the Ghana Health Service for collaborative success.

The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening partnerships and aligning efforts to deliver accessible, equitable, and quality healthcare for all Ghanaians.

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