Parliament passes Ghana Medical Trust Fund legislation  

Parliament on Tuesday, July 22, passed the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, 2025, into law to mobilise funds and resources towards the treatment of chronic and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country. 

The government said it would require about US$60 million to allow it to support many sufferers of the NCDs nationwide. 

The bill, which was considered under a certificate of urgency, would foot the medical bills of the sufferers of NCDs including stroke, cancer, diabetes and kidney failure. 

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, otherwise known as ‘Mahama Cares’, is expected to take 20 per cent of the total funds from the National Insurance Trust Fund (NHIF) to support its activities. 

Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, at a presser at Parliament House, said the government had ring-fenced GHc1.5 billion from the National Health Insurance Fund formula to be used as seed capital towards the operationalisation of the Trust Fund. 

The Minister stated that 43 per cent of mortality in Ghana was attributable to NCDs, therefore, the operationalisation of the Trust Fund would provide a respite to NCD sufferers and bring financial relief to families. 

Mr Akandoh lauded individuals and corporate entities that had already contributed funds towards the Trust Fund, and encouraged public-spirited organisations and persons to give their widows mite to the Fund. 

During the debate on the bill, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus opposed the government’s plans to take 20 per cent from the NHIF for the Mahama Cares. 

The Minority was of the conviction that taking 20 per cent from the NHIF would impoverish the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and eventually collapse it. 

Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, the NPP Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore and a Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, urged the government to explore innovative and alternative sources of funding towards financing the Trust Fund. 

Dr Nana Afriyie remarked: “Taking monies from the NHIF implies that the Medical Trust Fund is competing with the National Health Insurance Scheme and this is not sustainable.” 

Professor Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Member of Parliament for Essikadu-Ketan, and Deputy Minister of Health designate, disagreed with the Minority Caucus’ stance and insisted that the Medical Trust Fund legislation was critical because it aligned with the government’s plans to provide healthcare for sufferers of NCDs. 

It was also in harmony with the United Nations Universal Health Coverage, she added. 

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah noted that over 40 per cent of the country’s mortality rate was due to chronic diseases and that required urgent steps to address it. 

Source: GNA