Tony Goodman Clarifies: ‘Mahama Cares’ as Officially Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund
Tony Goodman, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, has provided clarity on the nomenclature of the recently launched health initiative, stating that while popularly known as “Mahama Cares,” the official designation is the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund. Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye show, Goodman emphasized the initiative’s focus on supporting Ghanaians battling chronic diseases.
“It’s very expensive treating some chronic diseases like kidney disorders, and most natives with these kinds of diseases struggle to foot the medical bills,” Goodman noted. “If there is no dedicated fund to cater for such diseases, most victims will end up losing their lives.”
Addressing the naming of the policy, Goodman explained that while the official documentation refers to it as the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, the moniker “Mahama Cares” stems from its inclusion in the party’s manifesto. “Because in the manifesto it had the name ‘Mahama Cares,’ and in transitioning a manifesto into a policy, you have to carry the idea,” he stated.
To ensure the fund’s independence and sustainability, Goodman revealed plans to enact it into law, free from governmental interference. “The Attorney General and those involved in bill drafting have drafted the bill, and where the Ghana Health Insurance Scheme has to come in have also been added,” he noted. He further distinguished the roles of existing health schemes, stating, “The Ghana Health Insurance will cater for ‘not so serious diseases,’ but the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund will cater for specialist care like dialysis and chemotherapy.”
Importantly, Goodman emphasized that the fund will not be managed by the Ministry of Health but by independent third-party administrators, ensuring transparency and efficiency in its operations.
The Mahama Cares Health Policy aims to bridge gaps in the National Health Insurance Scheme by covering specialist-level treatments and early diagnosis services that are often inaccessible due to high costs. President John Dramani Mahama has pledged six months of his salary to support the fund and has called on corporate Ghana to contribute as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The initiative has been welcomed by health sector stakeholders, who have called for more focus on training healthcare personnel to ensure its success.
By: Gifty Bediako Yamoah
