The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) held a regional stakeholders’ engagement in Cape Coast to sensitise stakeholders on the Fund's mandate and operations, popularly known as MAHAMACARE, and to strengthen collaboration to support its effective implementation.
In his welcome address, the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, underscored the fundamental importance of healthcare to human dignity and wellbeing.
He noted that Ghana’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) made financial protection for patients increasingly urgent.
The Regional Minister further cited findings from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating that hypertension and raised blood glucose remained significant health concerns among adults aged 18 to 69 years, with prevalence rates of 21 per cent and 5.2 per cent, respectively.
Hon. Eduamoah highlighted the significance of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, noting that it was designed to provide sustainable financing for the treatment of chronic diseases, including NCDs, as well as specialised medical services.
He explained that the Fund would complement existing health-financing arrangements and help address medical conditions that could impose severe financial burdens on patients and their families.
The Regional Minister stressed that although the Government bears the primary responsibility for ensuring accessible and quality healthcare, the increasing complexity and cost of modern medicine require a broader partnership involving all stakeholders.
He therefore urged health facilities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector and community leaders to become active partners in the implementation of the initiative.
He called on stakeholders to support public education, identify eligible beneficiaries, facilitate access to healthcare services, promote accountability and provide feedback to strengthen the implementation of the Fund.
Hon. Panyin-Okyere also called on all stakeholders to recognise the important relationship between environmental sanitation and public health, stressing that “good health begins with a clean and safe environment.”
He noted that a cleaner region would contribute to the prevention of avoidable diseases and commended the management of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund for organising the engagement.
The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Hon. Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, called on traditional leaders and stakeholders, particularly those within the health sector, to deepen their collaboration to ensure the success of the MAHAMA CARE initiative.
She also called for effective communication and equitable access to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act, 2024 (Act 1144).
Hon. Darko-Opoku noted that the initiative had already transformed the lives of several beneficiaries and helped save the lives of many Ghanaians who had benefited from the Fund.
Solidarity messages were delivered by representatives of various health institutions in the Central Region, with several institutions also making pledges to support the MAHAMACARE initiative.
Earlier, the Fund’s delegation paid a courtesy call on the Oguaa Omanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who welcomed the initiative and commended the Government for introducing the intervention.
He noted that the initiative would help reduce the financial burden of healthcare on citizens and contribute to saving lives.
The stakeholders’ engagement brought together representatives from health institutions, MMDAs, academia, CSOs, traditional authorities and other relevant stakeholder groups to deliberate on ways of strengthening awareness, accessibility and effective implementation of the MAHAMACARE initiative in the Central Region.
