Parliament Greenlights Ghana Medical Trust Fund
This bill aims to provide financial support for individuals battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, stroke, kidney failure, and diabetes.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund will be financed through various sources, including;dedicated allocation from the national budget ,voluntary contributions from individuals and organizations and donor support.
The fund will provide financial relief to Ghanaians who fall through the cracks of the existing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), ensuring they receive quality healthcare despite their financial situation.
A Board of Trustees is expected to be appointed to oversee the Fund's operations, ensure transparency, and prevent misapplication of resources.
Despite initial opposition from the Minority over concerns about diverting 20% of the NHIS levy to fund the Trust, the bill secured enough support to pass through a majority vote. The Minority had argued that this would undermine the NHIS's capacity to deliver essential healthcare to the wider population.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund is expected to become operational in the coming months, pending presidential assent and the establishment of key administrative structures. With this development, Ghana takes a significant step towards expanding access to critical medical treatment for non-communicable diseases.
Source: Lead News Online/Emmanuel Kofi Ahadzi
