Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, has expressed apprehension regarding the recently introduced Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares), citing a lack of operational clarity and potential risks to the existing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The former Chairman of the Committee questioned the roles and responsibilities of the new Trust Fund in relation to the NHIS, particularly concerning specialist care and the patient referral process. He emphasized the need for clear guidelines to prevent confusion for Ghanaians seeking medical attention.
“At what point does the NHIS stop caring for a patient with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and at what point does the Trust take over?” he queried, highlighting potential dangers associated with waiting times for Trust approval.
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In an interview on Wednesday, Dr. Afriyie criticized the Trust Fund’s funding model, which allocates 20% of its resources from the NHIS budget. He argued that this could strain the NHIS’s capacity to deliver essential basic healthcare services. He suggested alternative funding sources, such as the repurposing of unfinished Agenda 111 hospital projects into specialist facilities under the Trust.
“If the government is serious about supporting specialist care, why not complete some Agenda 111 hospitals and convert them into specialist hospitals under the Trust?” he proposed.
Dr. Afriyie stressed that his concerns are not politically motivated but stemmed from a desire to ensure a robust and equitable healthcare system for all Ghanaians.
He urged the government to engage in transparent dialogue with stakeholders to ensure the Trust Fund operates effectively and complements, rather than competes with, the NHIS.