Dr. Kwesi Senanu Dzokoto has thrown his weight behind the Mahama Care initiative, describing it as a bold and strategic response to persistent gaps in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, at the third Public Lecture of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Dzokoto joined health sector experts in discussing the theme: “Building a Resilient Healthcare System That Works for All.”
In his address, Dr. Dzokoto outlined the critical need for two flagship interventions, the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Care. He argued that these programmes go beyond political promises, offering practical solutions to entrenched challenges such as inadequate screening for hypertension and diabetes, and the lack of coverage for chronic conditions, including various cancers.
“Health is not a cost, it is an investment,” Dr. Dzokoto asserted, stressing that Mahama Care is designed to bridge systemic gaps and fast-track Ghana’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
He revealed that, despite the NHIA Act 852 mandating universal registration under the NHIS, only 56% of the population is currently covered. This shortfall, he noted, underscores the urgency of interventions like Mahama Care to extend access and equity in healthcare.
According to Dr. Dzokoto, the recent uncapping of NHIA funds, which increased the budget from GH₵7 billion to GH₵10 billion, presents an opportunity to strengthen healthcare financing and scale up service delivery nationwide.
He called on policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to rally behind Mahama Care, emphasising that sustainable financing, efficient use of resources, and bold innovation are key to making quality healthcare a reality for every Ghanaian.
The Mahama Care initiative, championed by former President John Dramani Mahama, aims to provide free primary healthcare at public facilities, forming a central plank in the National Democratic Congress’s social intervention agenda for equitable and accessible health services.
