Govt Announces Full Cancer Treatment Coverage
The Government has announced plans to fully absorb all cancer treatments under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares next year.
The announcement was made by Mr. Desmond Boateng, the Chief Director of the Ministry on behalf of the Minister for Health, during the Ministry of Health’s maiden National Cancer Forum.
Describing the policy as a “historic shift toward true equity in healthcare,” the Ministry noted that the initiative will ensure every Ghanaian diagnosed with cancer receives comprehensive, lifesaving care, from diagnostics and imaging to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and supportive treatment, without catastrophic out-of-pocket costs.
The Forum was under the theme “Transforming Cancer Care in Ghana: A Roadmap for Sustainable Prevention, Early Detection, Equitable Treatment and a Resilient System”, convening key partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), development agencies, civil society groups, teaching hospitals, and clinical experts. Participants discussed gaps and opportunities in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.
The Minister highlighted several ongoing reforms, including the Free Primary Health Care initiative, expanded NHIS coverage for childhood, breast, and cervical cancers, and Ghana’s recent subscription to the WHO-led Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, which guarantees a steady supply of quality, affordable paediatric cancer medicines.
The event also marked the official start of developing a new Five-Year National Cancer Strategy (2026–2030), which will provide a unified framework to improve early detection, strengthen governance, coordinate stakeholder roles, and build a resilient, people-centred cancer care system nationwide.
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