The National President of the Health CEOs and Scientists Network, Traditional Dr. Kwame Dzikunu, has commended the John Mahama-led administration for establishing the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares.
He described the initiative as laudable but underscored the need for traditional medicine care to be incorporated into the fund.
He urged the government to prioritize support for private health facility owners, who have been major stakeholders in healthcare delivery in Ghana.
He argued that private healthcare facilities in the country, especially traditional facilities, have contributed significantly to the healthcare ecosystem in Ghana over the years.
However, private facilities have been consistently neglected in past decision-making processes.
The Fund seeks to cover the cost of care and medication for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) not currently included under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), thereby complementing it by supporting critical aspects of these conditions.
Additionally, the Fund will invest in health infrastructure, medical equipment, specialist training, and research to enhance access to quality healthcare.
Commenting on it, Dr. Dzikunu said, “The MahamaCares initiative is commendable because its objective is to provide support for persons battling chronic conditions. There are several individuals with non-communicable diseases who are unable to raise the needed funds to manage their conditions, and so launching the fund has gone a long way in providing support. We support it but appeal to the government to consider us and include us in the initiative.”
He made these remarks at the official launch of the 14th Africa Health CEOs and Legends Awards.
At the same event, the Acting Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Dr. Yakubu Yusuf Torbor, hinted that his outfit is set to partner with state agencies, such as the security services, to clamp down on practitioners breaching the law.
According to him, about 80% of the Ghanaian population uses traditional medicine as their primary healthcare before going to the hospital or relying on orthodox medicine; therefore, proper attention needs to be given to traditional medicine.
He added that the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) would embark on a regional expansion program, where their officers would be available in every district to provide assistance to practitioners who want to register, ensuring Ghana has a safe environment for traditional practices in healthcare delivery.
