Deputy Minister-Designate for Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has described the ‘Mahama Cares’ policy as a game-changer that will significantly improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, July 25, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah stressed that many Ghanaians, especially in underserved areas, lack access to proper healthcare services—a situation the policy aims to address.
She explained that the policy’s focus on Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds will help deliver promotive and preventive healthcare at the grassroots level, reducing the pressure on referral hospitals.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah assured the Committee that if approved, she would work to ensure the effective implementation of the policy, which she believes will help reduce preventable deaths and transform Ghana’s healthcare system.
“There are a lot of people in rural areas who do not have access to proper healthcare. And that is why the Mahama free primary health care policy is going to solve that problem. The reason is that we’re now focusing on the CHPS Compound in the community.
“If we get people to have good healthcare at the CHPS Compound level, which is both promotive and preventative, we’ll not get to a stage where people will get sick and end up in Effia Nkwanta and referral hospitals, where there’s a backlog.
She added, “I will work hard to see how best we can to really affect the Mahama free primary health care. That is also another game changer in our health system. If we’re able to manage diseases before they get complications from the chronic diseases, I believe that will be the health system Ghanains have been looking for, and it will prevent deaths.”
Parliament on July 22, passed the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, 2025 — popularly known as the Mahama Cares Programme — paving the way for the establishment of a dedicated fund to support specialised medical care for chronic and life-threatening conditions such as cancer, stroke, kidney failure, and diabetes.
The legislation seeks to improve access to critical healthcare services for Ghanaians battling non-communicable diseases by providing financial assistance through a specially designated trust.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, once operational, will focus on easing the financial burden on patients and their families by covering part or all of the cost of expensive treatments, surgeries, and medications that are often beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
The programme is expected to roll out in phases, with additional details on its structure, eligibility criteria, and governance to be outlined in subsidiary legislation and operational guidelines.
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