The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, Adjow Obuobia Darko-Opoku has outlined the official process through which eligible Ghanaians can access financial and medical support under the initiative amid growing public interest and concerns about accessibility.
According to the Administrator, applicants seeking assistance from the Fund must satisfy three key eligibility requirements.
Beneficiaries must be Ghanaian citizens, possess an active National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card, and be diagnosed with a medical condition that falls within the approved categories covered by the Trust Fund.
The Administrator emphasized that patients cannot walk directly into the Secretariat to request assistance, explaining that the support system has been designed to operate through a “digital and dignified” process.
Under the arrangement, applications for support are initiated exclusively by specialist clinicians at designated hospitals through a dedicated digital platform established for the programme.
“The process is digital and dignified. Patients are not expected to walk into the Secretariat to seek support directly. Applications are initiated by specialist clinicians at our enlisted hospitals through a dedicated digital platform,” the Administrator explained.
As part of the initial rollout of the Patient Support Programme, twenty-nine hospitals across the country have been enlisted to facilitate access and ensure equitable distribution of services nationwide.
The hospitals include Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ho Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Tema General Hospital, LEKMA Hospital, Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua, and the Volta Regional Hospital in Hohoe.
Others are Sunyani Teaching Hospital, Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa, Ashanti Regional Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, Police Hospital, Ga East Municipal Hospital, Atua Government Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Jirapa, St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu, Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Nkawie Government Hospital, Tarkwa Municipal Hospital, Wenchi Methodist Hospital, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Sogakope District Hospital, and Keta Municipal Hospital.
The Administrator assured the public that more health facilities would be added progressively as the programme expands across the country.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund forms part of government’s broader healthcare intervention agenda aimed at supporting citizens battling chronic and life-threatening medical conditions while reducing the financial burden on affected families.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
