Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, announced that young adults aged 18 to 45 suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will be the priority beneficiaries of the newly launched MahamaCares initiative — officially known as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
Unveiled in Accra on Tuesday, April 29, the fund marks the fulfillment of a key health financing pledge made by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2024 election campaign. The focus? The country’s most economically active age group — now increasingly at the mercy of life-altering illnesses like diabetes, cancer, hypertension complications, chronic kidney failure, and stroke.
“Non-communicable diseases now account for 43 percent of all deaths in Ghana, and over half of those affected are between 18 and 45 — our most productive citizens,” Akandoh stated, underscoring the urgency of intervention.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund is structured to go beyond existing healthcare schemes, targeting specialized care and bridging critical gaps. It also promises an overhaul of early screening and diagnosis capabilities across both public and private health systems.
The financial toll is staggering. According to the Health Minister, the average chronic illness care bill runs around GH¢53,000 per patient — a sum that, without intervention, can plunge families into long-term poverty. “There’s a 75 percent chance that a person diagnosed with a chronic illness will fall into poverty within five years,” Mr. Akandoh warned.
The initiative’s launch was made possible in part by the removal of a cap on the National Health Insurance Fund — a long-standing roadblock. “That obstacle has been removed,” Mr. Akandoh said. “We now have a clear path to build a more sustainable and predictable source of funding.”
Public support appears to be strong. A recent national survey involving over 3,300 respondents revealed that more than half were willing to contribute monthly to keep the fund alive and thriving.
Mr. Akandoh credited the policy framework team, led by Reverend Professor Emeritus Seth Ayittey, alongside legal and technical experts at the Ministry of Health, for shaping the fund’s blueprint. He also emphasized the program’s alignment with Ghana’s 2020 National Health Policy and the country’s broader roadmap toward Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
The message from the minister was clear: Ghana is stepping up to protect its young citizens from the devastating grip of chronic disease — and the healthcare system is being retooled to meet the challenge head-on.
“We urge all institutions under the Ministry of Health to rally behind this initiative,” he said, “because the time to act is now.”
Source:TheDotNews