President Mahama Launches Ghana Medical Fund, Donates Salary

April 29, 2025 - Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as "Mahama Cares," a new initiative aimed at mitigating the substantial financial costs faced by citizens suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The launch fulfills a campaign promise and seeks to address gaps in the country's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The fund, inaugurated at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra, will provide financial assistance for specialist-level treatments for conditions including various cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failure, and stroke complications. President Mahama marked the launch by donating his personal salary for the next six months to the fund.

Funding for "Mahama Cares" is structured through multiple streams. A primary source will be the uncapped portion of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL). Additional financing is expected from direct government budgetary allocations, voluntary corporate and individual contributions, grants, and potential investment income generated by the fund itself.

Support distributed by the fund will be contingent upon formal applications undergoing a vetting process. Assistance will specifically target treatment costs not currently covered by the NHIS, which, despite significant strides, has proven inadequate for the comprehensive management of NCDs. Data from 2018 indicated that while NCDs accounted for approximately 48% of NHIS claims, critical services and medications often remained outside its scope, exposing patients to significant out-of-pocket expenses.

President Mahama described the initiative as a decisive step against the escalating burden of NCDs in Ghana, framing it as integral to the nation's development agenda and alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), particularly Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature NCD mortality by one-third by 2030.

Government officials highlighted the severe impact of NCDs, noting they are consistently among Ghana's top ten causes of death. Official figures cited a dramatic increase in hospitalized cancer cases, rising from 3,487 in 2012 to 16,105 in 2016, with over half these cases affecting adults aged 18-45, considered the nation's core workforce. Factors cited as driving this trend include changing lifestyles—such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity—alongside environmental influences.

The economic consequences for individuals and families are stark. The average annual cost for NCD treatment per patient is estimated at GH¢53,000 (approximately $3,300 USD), according to teaching hospital data. Studies suggest individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases face a 75% probability of falling into poverty within five years. Patients with kidney and cardiovascular diseases reportedly spend between 70% and 95% of their non-food budget on healthcare alone.

Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated the fund aligns with existing national health policies, including the National Health Policy 2020 and Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage Roadmap (2020-2030). He positioned the initiative as a potential model for people-centered healthcare reform.

Legislation to formally establish the "Mahama Cares" fund is expected to be presented to Parliament following its current recess. Initial contributions beyond the President's salary included $1,000 from Reverend Emeritus Professor Seth Aryeetey, Chair of the fund's establishment task force, and a pledge of GH¢100,000 from the host institution, UGMC, represented by its CEO, Dr. Kwame Anim-Boamah.