Parliament witnessed a sharp exchange on Tuesday as the Minority raised serious concerns over the proposed Ghana Medical Trust Fund, widely referred to as the Mahama Cares Fund, warning that it could duplicate the functions of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and strain the country’s health financing system.
The bill, which was introduced less than 24 hours before its scheduled debate, aims to establish a dedicated fund to support patients living with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes.
Leading the Minority’s critique, Samuel Abu Jinapor, MP for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, questioned the rationale behind creating what he described as a parallel structure.
“We are all aware of the dangers of duplicating institutions,” Jinapor argued. “Reputable bodies like the UN, WHO, UNDP, and IMF have repeatedly warned third-world governments against creating overlapping agencies. Why not reform the NHIS to address these needs instead of starting another institution that will only increase administrative costs and complicate governance?”
He urged the government to consider strengthening the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to expand its coverage to include chronic NCDs, rather than establishing a new fund with potential bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Government MPs, however, defended the bill, arguing that the Mahama Cares Fund is designed to operate as a specialized vehicle to fill existing gaps in NCD care, which is currently underfunded and inadequately prioritized by the NHIS.
Debate on the bill is expected to continue later this week, with both sides pressing for amendments that could either integrate or redefine the scope of the proposed fund.
