The Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Grace Ayensu, has explained how the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, is supporting cancer patients and others living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes and hypertension.
She said the initiative was established in response to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, which account for about 43 per cent of diseases affecting Ghanaians, a figure she warned could rise to 50 per cent if urgent interventions are not implemented.
Dr. Ayensu identified breast cancer as the leading cancer killing women in Ghana, citing statistics indicating that approximately 2,000 women die from the disease annually.
She explained that the alarming statistics informed the government’s decision to introduce the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as part of its manifesto commitment.
“The idea was that if we don’t do something about this forty-three percent of diseases that are killing Ghanaians, soon, that number will go up to fifty percent. So we put a fund aside. Took twenty percent of National Health Insurance to set up a special fund that is ring-fenced for Ghanaians,” she said.
According to her, the fund is intended to support patients suffering from cancers, diabetes and hypertension.
How breast cancer patients can access Mahama Cares
The Deputy Minister disclosed that every regional hospital has a designated patient coordinator for Mahama Cares to assist patients seeking treatment support.
She encouraged women diagnosed with breast cancer to contact the coordinators at regional hospitals or patient navigators at teaching hospitals to access the programme.
She explained that patients would be required to submit medical documentation, including radiology results, biopsy reports, medical records and other relevant clinical information, through their doctors for assessment.
The Fund reviews the patient’s medical records and makes a determination on eligibility, a process she said takes approximately 14 days.
“If you have cancer and it is, for instance, breast cancer, you are more likely to be a candidate, especially if they have some of the requirements,” she explained.
Dr. Ayensu disclosed that more than 500 patients had so far been enrolled and were receiving treatment support under the programme.
Supports surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment
She said Mahama Cares goes beyond providing financial assistance to patients, explaining that the programme also helps them navigate the healthcare system and access appropriate specialists and treatment facilities.
The support includes guidance and assistance with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as identifying appropriate hospitals and specialists.
She noted that some cancer treatment equipment was available only in selected health facilities, making it necessary for patients in certain regions to travel elsewhere to access specialised care.
In such situations, the programme helps patients navigate the referral process and supports access to facilities with the required equipment.
Mahama Cares to support specialist training
The Deputy Minister further disclosed that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund was working with the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to train more specialists and sub-specialists to manage complex conditions such as cancer.
She explained that cancer treatment requires highly specialised expertise, including surgeons who focus on specific cancers, radiation therapists and other highly trained professionals.
She noted that radiation therapy machines were extremely expensive and required specialised personnel to operate them.
Dr. Ayensu said developing the country’s specialist workforce was therefore an important part of the programme’s broader approach to improving cancer care.
She stressed that Mahama Cares was designed not only to ease the financial burden of treatment but also to help patients access the right specialists, equipment and healthcare facilities.
About the Author
