The Ministry of Health has announced a significant boost to Ghana’s healthcare delivery through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, widely known as the Mahama Cares initiative, aimed at strengthening specialist medical training across the country.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament on Thursday, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, disclosed that part of the Fund has been earmarked to support the training of medical specialists from the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons.
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Mr Akandoh said the intervention would address Ghana’s widening gap in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), noting that the lack of specialists has contributed to rising cases and limited access to advanced medical care.
“Mr Chairman, fortunately enough, we have secured some kind of funding from the Ghana Medical Trust Fund. The Mahama Cares is dedicated to the funding of non-communicable diseases,” he said.
He explained that the specialist training programme would be decentralised to ensure equitable access across the regions. Beyond Accra and Kumasi, additional training centres will be established in Hohoe, Wa, and Bolgatanga, allowing doctors to specialise without relocating long distances.
According to the Minister, decentralising the programme is expected to reduce service gaps in regions that often lose medical officers who travel to bigger cities for specialist training.
“We are in touch with the College, and they have indicated that there is a huge gap in specialists treating that particular disease,” he added.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund was set up to provide financial support for individuals living with chronic diseases while contributing to broader healthcare system improvements. The new investment in specialist training forms part of government’s strategy to strengthen regional healthcare delivery and ensure that every part of the country can access advanced medical care.
