The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) has appealed to American hospitals, healthcare investors, medical schools, foundations and philanthropists to partner with Ghana to expand access to specialised healthcare, particularly for patients battling cancer and other chronic diseases.
The Administrator of the Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, made the appeal at a Ghana-Tennessee Business and Investor Roundtable in Nashville, Tennessee, where she outlined the Fund’s achievements and identified areas for collaboration with US-based institutions.
She said partnerships with American healthcare institutions could help address gaps in cancer treatment, medical diagnostics, specialist training and healthcare infrastructure while reducing the financial burden on patients and their families.
“For many families, a diagnosis is difficult enough. But the next question is often even more frightening: how are we going to afford the treatment, and where can we access this care?” she said.
Ms Darko-Opoku explained that the Fund was established to support specialised treatment, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, train specialist professionals and promote research into chronic diseases.
She disclosed that more than 800 patients had been enrolled for treatment under the Fund’s services package, which covers 13 common cancers in Ghana, neurosurgical conditions, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
Highlighting the Fund’s achievements, the Administrator said GMTF had reconstructed the cardiac catheterisation laboratory at Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital following a fire that disrupted services.
The facility, opened by President John Dramani Mahama, has since supported more than 160 procedures, including interventions involving 110 children.
The Fund is also supporting the construction of oncology centres at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and Tamale Teaching Hospital to expand access to cancer care.
In partnership with the KGL Group, GMTF is pursuing a proposed US$10 million diagnostic and imaging centre at Ridge Hospital, which is expected to improve access to MRI, CT scans and mammography.
Ms Darko-Opoku also disclosed plans to establish an advanced comprehensive oncology centre at Korle -Bu Teaching Hospital to ease pressure on existing cancer treatment facilities and reduce waiting times.
Additionally, the Fund is investing close to GH¢1 billion in retooling major hospitals with essential medical equipment, including dialysis machines, intensive care unit beds, oxygen concentrators and patient monitors.
To address shortages in specialist healthcare personnel, GMTF is sponsoring the training of 100 specialist pharmacists and 100 specialist nurses.
It is also supporting the establishment of specialist medical training centres in six regions.
The Administrator said the Fund’s GMTF Care digital platform was facilitating patient enrolment across participating health facilities.
Ms Darko-Opoku identified five priority areas for collaboration with American institutions: healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment and technology, specialist training and clinical exchanges, research and innovation, and financial assistance for patients unable to afford specialised treatment.
She said the Fund was particularly interested in partnerships that could provide advanced cancer diagnostic and treatment services, specialist fellowships for Ghanaian health professionals, hospital equipment and joint research to improve the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
The Fund is also exploring an expansion of its treatment package to include additional conditions, such as kidney transplantation, while strengthening specialist capacity in oncology, cardiovascular medicine and urology.
She acknowledged that government resources alone would not be sufficient to meet Ghana’s growing specialised healthcare needs, making partnerships with international institutions and private-sector players increasingly important.
The Administrator called on US hospitals, universities, foundations, investors and members of the Ghanaian diaspora to move beyond expressions of goodwill and engage the Fund on specific, measurable interventions.
She invited interested organisations to request partnership meetings with GMTF to identify priority projects, agree on technical or financial contributions and develop implementation plans with measurable outcomes.
Potential areas of support include providing diagnostic equipment to Ghanaian hospitals, establishing specialist training and clinical exchange programmes, contributing to cancer care infrastructure, funding medical research and helping vulnerable patients access life-saving treatment.
“We are open to partnerships that bring together investment, technical expertise and a shared commitment to results,” she said.
Ms Darko-Opoku said such collaborations would help expand access to specialised care, strengthen Ghana’s medical workforce and reduce the extent to which a patient’s chances of survival depend on their financial circumstances or place of residence.
She urged interested American institutions and individuals to begin discussions with the Fund following the Nashville engagement to explore areas of mutual interest and develop concrete proposals.
“What we have achieved so far shows what is possible. With the right partnerships, we can do much more,” she said.
