The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) has introduced a landmark national cancer care package designed to shield patients from catastrophic treatment costs, marking a decisive step in expanding access to specialised healthcare.
The package, unveiled during a stakeholder engagement with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, covers the full continuum of cancer care — from diagnosis and treatment to follow-up support. Administrator of the Fund, Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku, reaffirmed Mahama Cares’ commitment to strengthening partnerships with Ghana’s premier referral hospital, noting that Korle Bu’s expertise has been pivotal in shaping programmes for patients living with chronic non-communicable diseases.
Chief Executive of Korle Bu, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important opportunity to ease the financial burden on cancer patients. He emphasised that accountability, timely claims processing, and efficient service delivery would be critical to ensuring smooth implementation.
Presenting the package, Head of Operations William Omane-Agyekum explained that the initiative transitions Mahama Cares from its pilot phase into a structured national financing framework under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act, 2023 (Act 1114). He disclosed that the programme will initially cover eight cancers — three adult and five childhood cancers — selected based on prevalence and expert recommendations.
Eligible patients will receive financial support for specialist consultations, diagnostic investigations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, inpatient care, and up to two years of post-treatment follow-up. After this period, stable patients will transition to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) or lower-level facilities for routine reviews.
The financing model combines fee-for-service reimbursements for medicines and diagnostics with bundled tariffs for specialist consultations, ensuring accountability and sustainability. The package was developed through extensive consultations with specialists from teaching hospitals nationwide and endorsed by the Minister of Health.
Stakeholders also reviewed medicines lists and tariff schedules to avoid duplication with NHIS coverage, while stressing the need for digital integration through the Ghana Health Information Management System to streamline claims processing.
Officials noted that the cancer care package represents the first phase of a broader programme that will eventually extend support to other chronic conditions, reinforcing Mahama Cares’ mission to guarantee access to quality healthcare without pushing families into financial hardship.
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