By Albert Allotey
Accra, Nov. 14, GNA – Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health has called for constructive contributions from the public to improve health outcomes in the implementation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), and the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) Policy.
He said, “The outcomes we seek are clear mapping of progress and bottlenecks, formal pathways for participation of people living with NCDs, financial sustainability and accountability framework, and multi-stakeholder communique with a monitoring roadmap.”
He added saying, “We will achieve them only if every voice in the country contributes constructively.”
Mr Akandoh made the call in a speech read on his behalf at a multisectoral stakeholder engagement to assess the status of the implementation of the GMTF and the FPHC organised by the NCD Alliance Ghana (NCDA-Gh) in Accra.
It brought together representatives of government institutions, civil society organisations, health sector institutions, development partners, Community Health Management Committees, people living with NCDs, patient organisations, academia, the media and other relevant stakeholders.
The meeting focused on implementation progress, financing and operational gaps, public participation, accountability and the long-term sustainability of the two initiatives.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the NCD Alliance Ghana and its partners for organisation the programme.
Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Chairperson, NCD Alliance Ghana in a welcoming address said the meeting had come at a critical moment in Ghana’s healthcare journey.
“It presents us with an opportunity not merely to discuss government policies, but to examine how these policies can translate into real, measurable and sustainable improvements in the lives of our people,” she stated.
She emphasized that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are no longer just a health concern; they are a national development challenge.
Madam Wiafe-Addai said cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases continued to place enormous physical, emotional and financial burdens on individuals, families and Ghana’s healthcare system.
“Too many Ghanaians are diagnosed late, struggle to afford treatment, abandon care because of financial difficulties, or lose their lives to conditions that could have been prevented, detected early or effectively managed,” she pointed out.
She said It was against this background that Ghanaians welcomed the GMTF as an important intervention to address the financial barriers confronting patients with serious and life-threatening conditions.
The Chairperson, however, stated that establishing a fund is only the beginning and that its true success will be measured by the lives it saves, the patients it supports and the financial hardships it prevents.
“Similarly, the FPHC Policy presents a tremendous opportunity to reposition our healthcare system from one that predominantly responds to illness to one that prioritizes prevention, early detection and health promotion,” she said.
Madam Wiafe-Addai pointed out that primary healthcare must go beyond treating malaria and common infections, adding, “The FPHC policy must go beyond screening but deliberately incorporate hypertension and diabetes screening.
“Others are breast and cervical cancer awareness and early detection, healthy lifestyle education on tobacco and alcohol control, mental health support and effective referral systems.”
She proposed five recommendations for the collective attention of stakeholders.
She recommended that equity and accessibility policies must reach the poorest, most vulnerable and underserved populations, including rural communities, and early detection and prevention, screening and health promotion must become central pillars of primary healthcare.
She said sustainable financing must ensure predictable funding and effective resource mobilization to guarantee continuity while strong referral and treatment systems for patients identified at the primary healthcare level must have access to timely diagnosis, specialist care, medicines and follow-up services.
Madam Wiafe-Addai further proposed that meaningful stakeholder participation such as civil society organizations, patient groups, professional associations and healthcare providers must be recognized as essential implementation partners, not merely invited observers.
She said the Ghana NCD Alliance Ghana stood ready to work with the government and all stakeholders to ensure that these policies achieve their intended objectives.
“We must move beyond policy announcements and implementation frameworks to measurable results. We must ask ourselves: Are patients accessing care? Are families being protected from catastrophic health expenditure? Are more cancers being detected early? Are people living with chronic diseases receiving continuous and affordable treatment?” she urged.
She added, “Let us remember that behind every policy document is a human being – a mother battling breast cancer, a father living with kidney disease, a young person diagnosed with diabetes, or a family struggling to keep a loved one alive.
“Healthcare must not become a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. It is a fundamental necessity, and every Ghanaian deserves the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.
The GMTF was established as Mahama Cares Initiative in July 2025 aimed at mobilising resources to finance and support specialised medical care for persons with chronic diseases including cancer, kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade