Ghana has marked a significant milestone in the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) following the passage of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, 2025, by Parliament on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
The bill also referred to as the Mahama Cares Initiative is expected to mobilise resources to finance and support the provision of specialised medical care for persons living with chronic diseases, once assented into law by the President.
According to the memorandum accompanying the bill, the initiative will decentralise healthcare delivery by investing over 59 million United States dollars in healthcare infrastructure over a three-year period.
It will also establish a national registry for non-communicable diseases through a dedicated trust fund governed by a board of trustees.
Once operational, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund will enhance capacity building, promote early diagnosis and treatment of NCDs, and significantly reduce the financial burden on households.
The fund will also provide coverage for diseases currently not catered for under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who moved the motion for the third reading of the bill, expressed gratitude to Members of Parliament for passing the bill under a certificate of urgency.
He revealed that the government had earmarked no less than GHS 1.5 billion under the 2025 National Health Insurance formula as seed funding for the initiative. He added that an estimated $60 million would be required to build and equip healthcare infrastructure across the country to provide equitable NCD-related services.
The Minister also appealed to the public and corporate Ghana to contribute generously to the fund to ensure its sustainability.
Non-communicable diseases currently account for about 43 percent of deaths in Ghana, posing a significant health and economic burden to the nation.
The establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund was a major campaign promise made by President Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 electioneering campaign.
