Ghana Medical Trust Fund Engages Northern Region Stakeholders on Access to Specialised Healthcare

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) has engaged stakeholders in the Northern Region as part of a nationwide exercise aimed at improving understanding of the Fund’s mandate, strengthening partnerships and gathering feedback to enhance the delivery of its programmes and interventions.

The engagement brought together health professionals, government officials and other stakeholders to discuss the Fund’s operations, eligibility requirements and its role in supporting Ghanaians who require specialised medical care.

Welcoming participants, the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, described healthcare as a fundamental requirement for human dignity, economic productivity and national development.

He said populations burdened by preventable deaths, untreated chronic illnesses and unaffordable medical bills could not fully realise their social and economic potential.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the national administration, the Director of Operations of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Dr. William Omane Adjekum, said the Fund was committed to ensuring that its interventions reached people across the country, regardless of their geographical location.

“We come with a clear conviction that the national promise must have meaning in every part of the nation. The GMTF must matter to a person who lives in Tamale or kilometres away just as much as it matters to someone living close to the Secretariat,” he said.

Dr. Adjekum explained that families confronted with serious medical conditions, including cancer, kidney diseases and other illnesses requiring specialised treatment, often faced the additional burden of finding money to pay for healthcare.

He noted that the situation was particularly difficult for families who had to travel long distances to access specialised medical services.

According to him, families should not be forced into poverty because a loved one falls ill, stressing that such challenges underscored the importance of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

Highlighting the Fund’s mandate and operations, Dr. Norbert Kipo, Health Policy Adviser, said the GMTF was established to support access to specialised healthcare for people living with non-communicable diseases.

He explained that non-communicable diseases posed not only a health challenge but also a significant financial burden on households, with some families risking impoverishment while seeking treatment for their relatives.

Dr. Kipo said the Fund was governed by a 13-member Board of Trustees responsible for providing strategic and policy direction, while an administrator oversees its day-to-day operations.

He added that the Fund received financial support through parliamentary budgetary allocations and returns on its investments.

Dr. Kipo further indicated that the GMTF operated through a decentralised healthcare arrangement intended to make its services accessible across all regions of Ghana.

On eligibility, he explained that applicants must be Ghanaian citizens, possess an active National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card, have a qualifying non-communicable disease and obtain a recommendation from a specialist.

He said the application process begins with an assessment and diagnosis by a specialist, who then makes a formal recommendation to the Fund. Following approval, the relevant doctor and, where applicable, the patient’s caregiver are informed.

Representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and serving as Acting Director of Medical Affairs, Dr. Yaninga Halwani Fuseini disclosed that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund had supported the hospital with oxygen equipment and other resources to strengthen its capacity to provide care and perform medical procedures.

A beneficiary of the Fund, Miss Claudia, also shared her experience, recounting how the intervention helped save her son’s life when she had lost hope of securing the money needed for his treatment.

She explained that after giving birth, doctors discovered that her son had a hole in his heart and required surgery to survive. However, she lacked the financial resources to pay for the procedure and had little hope of getting the necessary assistance.

Her situation changed when a church member who was a doctor introduced her to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and helped her apply for support.

Miss Claudia said she received positive news within a few weeks, although she initially found it difficult to believe that assistance had finally come.

She expressed gratitude to the Fund and President John Dramani Mahama for the support, saying her son had successfully undergone surgery and was now in good health and active.

Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku