The Minority in Parliament is warning against a key provision in the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, 2025, part of the newly proposed Mahama Cares programme which seeks to permanently allocate 20 percent of the National Health Insurance Fund to finance the initiative.
According to the Minority, the move could severely hamper the operations of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and threaten the long-term sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Bill, currently being considered under a certificate of urgency, proposes the creation of a Ghana Medical Trust Fund to finance specialised treatment for chronic illnesses such as cancer, stroke, kidney failure, and diabetes.
But the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, says while the government’s intent to support critical healthcare is commendable, the funding model is flawed.
“The Ghana Medical Trust Fund should be established with its own dedicated revenue stream,” Dr. Afriyie argued. “Diverting 20 percent of NHIS resources undermines its core mandate and risks destabilising the entire health insurance system.”
He added that any weakening of the NHIS will disproportionately affect low-income citizens who rely on the scheme for basic healthcare needs.
In response, Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, dismissed the concerns as alarmist and unfounded.
“This government remains committed to strengthening both the NHIS and delivering specialised care. The Mahama Cares programme is not a threat but a necessary expansion of social protection,” he said.
The Mahama Cares initiative forms part of President Mahama’s broader social policy agenda to improve access to quality healthcare, especially for non-communicable diseases that are on the rise across the country.
Despite government assurances, the Minority is expected to push for amendments before the bill is passed, advocating for a funding model that protects the financial integrity of the NHIS.
