Mahama Pledges Healthcare Overhaul with Launch of "Mahama Cares" Fund

Former President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his commitment to revitalizing Ghana's healthcare system, focusing on affordability and accessibility for chronic illnesses.  During his "Thank You Tour" in the Central Region on February 6th, he announced the establishment of the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, affectionately known as "Mahama Cares."

 

This initiative aims to directly address the financial burden associated with treating chronic conditions such as kidney and liver diseases, hypertension, and cardiac ailments.  Mr. Mahama emphasized the importance of improving healthcare infrastructure at all levels, stating, "In healthcare, we will continue to improve our hospitals and continue to improve all levels of our healthcare system. We’ll prioritize healthcare..."

 

The core function of the "Mahama Cares" fund will be to provide financial assistance to individuals struggling with the high costs of managing these chronic diseases.  This direct support is intended to alleviate a significant pressure point for many Ghanaians.

 

Beyond the new fund, Mr. Mahama also proposed a crucial reform to the National Health Insurance Scheme. He plans to remove the cap on the National Health Insurance Levy, ensuring that all collected funds are channeled directly to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). This, he explained, will empower the NHIA to efficiently settle outstanding payments to healthcare facilities for services rendered to National Health Insurance cardholders.  This move aims to streamline the payment system and ensure timely reimbursements to providers.

 

These combined initiatives represent a significant commitment to improving healthcare access and affordability in Ghana.  The establishment of "Mahama Cares" and the proposed levy uncapping demonstrate a proactive approach to tackling the challenges of chronic illness and strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme.  The success of these plans will depend on effective implementation and ongoing monitoring to ensure their intended impact is realized.