Parliament Passes Mahama Cares Bill
The Parliament of Ghana has passed the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, 2025 known as the Mahama Cares after it was submitted under certificate of urgency.
Presenting the report of the Health Committee to the House, the Chairman, Hon. Nawaane Kurt Mark noted that the purpose of the Bill is to establish the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to mobilise resources to finance and support the provision of specialized medical care for the treatment of persons with chronic diseases and to provide for the management of the fund.
He added that Government has identified key challenges and gaps in access to specialized medical care in the country.
These challenges include the concentration of specialist services in urban areas, limited diagnostic equipment, inadequate data systems and the high cost of treatment of chronic diseases, which often leads to catastrophic household expenditure.
He pointed out that households with patients with chronic diseases risk falling into poverty within five years of diagnosis.
‘‘The Bill, therefore, seeks to provide statutory backing for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and set out the arrangements for management of the Fund.’’ He stated.
The Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, was present to propose amendments to the Bill during its consideration stage before its passage.
About Mahama Cares
The Mahama Cares initiative is aimed at supporting treatment for chronic diseases that are not covered under the National Health Insurance (NHI) and is envisioned to bridge gaps in healthcare financing and reduce the mortality rate that results from chronic diseases in Ghana.
The Trust Fund will support specialist-level treatment for a range of chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failure, stroke and other complications.
Additionally, it will be progressively expanded to cover convalescent care, palliative services and home-based support, the government said while launching the initiative in April.
According to the President, support from the Fund will be based on formal applications carefully vetted and will focus on costs not currently covered under the NHIS.
He noted that the 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 to ensure transparency, efficiency and a patient-centred ethic.
“Strategic procurement measures such as access pricing and framework contracting will ensure that essential medicines and diagnoses are quite sustainable,” he added.
President Mahama noted that approximately three billion cedis will annually be needed for the first three years to run.
The National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) is the main source of funding for this, he said, adding that it will draw funds from direct budgetary support from the government, voluntary contributions from corporate institutions and individuals, grants, donations and investment income.
Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
