Specialist Medical Doctors are to Apply for MahamaCares Benefit on Behalf of Patients- Minister
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that chronic disease patients cannot directly apply for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as “MahamaCares” benefits.
They can only apply through their specialist medical doctor.
“Your specialist medical doctor may have to apply on your behalf, and once it gets to the secretariat, within 14 days, they must respond,” he said at a presser on December 1, 2025.
He disclosed that GHc2.3 billion had been allocated to the Fund, which has commenced operation following the passage of the bill, inauguration of the Board and operationalisation of the secretariat.
“They’ve started disbursement for patient care at the moment.”
About Fund
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.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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