The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, is urging Ghanaians to properly understand the Mahama Cares initiative before criticising it, stressing that the programme is not a replacement for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) but a complementary intervention targeting specific health gaps.
She said much of the public misunderstanding stems from a lack of awareness about the structure and objectives of the programme, encouraging citizens to study the legal framework establishing the initiative to better appreciate its scope.
According to her, Mahama Cares is designed to focus on non-communicable diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, and other long-term conditions, while also supporting broader health system strengthening efforts including infrastructure development, medical training, and research.
She contrasted this with the NHIS, explaining that while the scheme has expanded access to healthcare, it does not fully cover critical illnesses or invest directly in health system development.
Obuobia cited World Health Organization (WHO) figures indicating that non-communicable diseases account for about 43 percent of deaths in Ghana, arguing that this makes targeted interventions necessary to address the growing burden.
She noted that relying solely on NHIS to manage such conditions would be inadequate, adding that the Mahama Cares initiative was introduced to provide a more focused and innovative response.
The Administrator acknowledged improvements in the NHIS over the years but maintained that significant gaps still exist, particularly in the treatment of life-threatening conditions.
She further disclosed that early implementation of the initiative has shown encouraging results, with about 50 pilot cases reportedly benefiting from life-saving interventions.
Obuobia also highlighted the financial strain associated with treating non-communicable diseases, estimating that patients may spend an average of GH¢56,000 annually on care.
She stressed that the programme is designed to support all Ghanaians regardless of social or political background, insisting that healthcare should not be politicised since illness affects everyone equally.
