The Ghana Medical Trust Fund has intensified efforts to expand healthcare support across the country following a strategic engagement with the Ghana Free Zones Authority, aimed at mobilizing private sector support for critical health interventions.
During a courtesy call on the Authority today, the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, emphasized the Fund’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system through targeted training, improved infrastructure, and enhanced medical support for patients suffering from serious illnesses.
According to her, the Trust Fund is prioritizing the training of medical professionals, particularly nurses and other healthcare workers, to effectively diagnose and treat communicable diseases while also addressing the growing burden of rare non-communicable diseases in the country.
She explained that the initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Ghana’s health system ahead of the government’s planned launch of a Free Primary Healthcare Programme next month, which is expected to improve access to healthcare services for many Ghanaians.
Mrs. Darko-Opoku further disclosed that the Trust Fund is currently collaborating with several tertiary institutions across the country to roll out specialized medical interventions. She revealed that the programme is presently working with ten regional hospitals and six teaching hospitals, with plans underway to extend the interventions to 30 healthcare facilities nationwide.
As part of the infrastructure expansion, she announced that new specialized facilities are currently under construction at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Tamale. These facilities are expected to be completed and fully operational by June this year.
She noted that the projects are being designed to ensure the hospitals are equipped with modern medical equipment and fully furnished to enable specialists to diagnose and treat diseases effectively.
“The facilities will be fully equipped so that healthcare professionals can provide comprehensive treatment without unnecessary delays. Our goal is to ensure that patients receive the best care possible within the country,” she said.
Mrs. Darko-Opoku also revealed that every region in Ghana has already benefited from 50 pilot medical intervention cases implemented under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund programme.
She explained that the visit to the Free Zones Authority was primarily to seek support from companies and institutions operating under the Authority’s umbrella.
“The purpose of our visit is to appeal to the Free Zones Authority to encourage the various businesses and institutions under its jurisdiction to support the Ghana Medical Trust Fund so that together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients across the country,” she stated.
Responding to the appeal, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr. Mary Awusi, described the engagement as highly significant and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives that improve the wellbeing of Ghanaians.
Dr. Awusi praised the government’s healthcare intervention popularly known as Mahama Care, an initiative championed by John Dramani Mahama, noting that programmes that help reduce the financial burden of illness on families are essential for national development.
She stressed that many families face enormous financial pressure when dealing with serious health conditions, and therefore initiatives that provide relief and support deserve the backing of both public and private sector institutions.
“To achieve true development, we must ensure that families are not pushed into poverty because of healthcare costs. Initiatives like Mahama Care are important because they help reduce the financial burden on families with sick relatives,” she said.
As part of its commitment, the Free Zones Authority presented a donation of GH¢300,000 to support the work of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and help expand its healthcare interventions.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Finance and Administration at the Authority, Hamidu Sibiri Musah, commended the Trust Fund for initiating the collaboration and highlighted the importance of preventive healthcare.
He emphasized that while treatment remains important, greater attention must also be given to disease prevention in order to reduce the number of patients requiring costly medical interventions.
Mr. Musah further revealed that the Trust Fund is gradually expanding the scope of diseases covered under its programme. While current efforts are heavily focused on cancer treatment, he noted that other conditions would be incorporated progressively.
“Sickle cell disease is one of the conditions we are yet to include in the programme. For now, we are focusing largely on cancers, but we are onboarding other diseases gradually as the programme expands,” he explained.
He also disclosed that the implementation strategy involves dividing the country into five operational zones to ensure efficient delivery of services and equitable access to healthcare interventions.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Awusi reiterated the commitment of the Free Zones Authority to deepen its collaboration with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and pledged that the Authority would continue to support the Mahama Care initiative.
She expressed optimism that stronger partnerships between government institutions and the private sector would significantly improve healthcare delivery and ensure that more Ghanaians receive the medical support they need.
The meeting marks an important step in building cross-sector partnerships aimed at strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system, improving disease treatment capacity, and reducing the financial burden faced by patients and their families.
