Mahama Cares taskforce present at the inauguration
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has inaugurated the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund taskforce also known as the “Mahama Cares”.
The ‘Mahama Cares’ initiative aims to provide financial support for individuals battling chronic and debilitating illnesses as well as expand access to quality care for these chronic diseases.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akando, explained that inauguration of the taskforce is a step towards transforming the health care system for Ghanaians noting that access to quality health care is a fundamental human right.
He said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been instrumental in providing coverage for a broad spectrum of health needs noting that the NHIS does not comprehensively address the high costs of specialized treatments like cancer, heart conditions and kidney disease.
The Minister highlighted the financial struggles faced by individuals suffering from chronic diseases emphasising that the ‘Mahama Cares’ is a response to address those challenges.
He said, “The Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, widely known as Mahama Cares, is a bold response to this challenge. Its purpose is clear, no Ghanaian should have to choose between their health and financial ruin”.
He added that the initiative will bridge the financial gaps in healthcare as well as ensuring fair access to treatment, and enhance the well-being of all Ghanaians.
He introduced the nine member taskforce with Rev. Prof. Emeritus Seth Aryeetey a former Provost of the College of Health Sciences as the Chair, with members including, Prof. Emeritus Fred Binka who is a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Margaret Kweku, Public Health Consultant, Dr. Alfred Doku, a Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Radolph Nsor-Ambala, a Financial Expert, Dr. Anthony Gingong, a representative of the National Health Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Anthony Sedum, a Health Policy and Financing Expert, Anna Pearl Akiwumi Siriboe, a lawyer and the Attorney General’s representative for the committee and Dr. Belinda Afriyie, a Public Health Consultant as the Secretary.
Again, he outlined the responsibilities of the taskforce as developing a robust policy and legal framework to establish ‘Mahama Cares’ as a statutory entity, designing a sustainable funding model to ensure the fund’s viability for generations, establishing clear and transparent eligibility and disbursement criteria to guarantee fairness and efficiency and evaluating current healthcare infrastructure and suggesting improvements to ensure accessibility.
Rev. Prof. Emeritus Seth Aryeetey, applauded the President for the initiative noting that the programme will bring relief to Ghanaians suffering from chronic diseases.
He added that the team will work with passion to see to the progress of the initiative.
By Florence Asamoah Adom