Government to cover full cancer treatment under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund from next year
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Government to cover full cancer treatment under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund from next year.
The Government has announced that beginning next year, all cancer treatments in Ghana will be fully covered under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares.
This announcement was made by Mr. Desmond Boateng, the Chief Director of the Ministry, on behalf of the Minister for Health, during the Ministry of Health’s maiden National Cancer Forum.
Describing the policy as a “historic shift toward true equity in healthcare,” the Ministry noted that the initiative will ensure every Ghanaian diagnosed with cancer receives comprehensive, lifesaving care, from diagnostics and imaging to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and supportive treatment, without catastrophic out-of-pocket costs.
The Forum, held under the theme “Transforming Cancer Care in Ghana: A Roadmap for Sustainable Prevention, Early Detection, Equitable Treatment and a Resilient System,” convened key partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), development agencies, civil society groups, teaching hospitals, and clinical experts. Participants discussed gaps and opportunities in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.
The Minister highlighted several ongoing reforms, including the Free Primary Health Care initiative, expanded NHIS coverage for childhood, breast, and cervical cancers, and Ghana’s recent subscription to the WHO-led Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, which guarantees a steady supply of quality, affordable paediatric cancer medicines.
The event also marked the official start of developing a new Five-Year National Cancer Strategy (2026–2030), which will provide a unified framework to improve early detection, strengthen governance, coordinate stakeholder roles, and build a resilient, people-centred cancer care system nationwide.
