The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) and the management of the Ho Teaching Hospital have agreed to strengthen their collaboration to improve access to specialised healthcare and financial support for patients living with chronic and life-threatening diseases in the Volta Region.
The agreement was reached during a strategic engagement between the two institutions to review the implementation of GMTF programmes, assess progress and identify measures to improve the delivery of specialised healthcare services.
The meeting was led by the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adwoa Obuobia Opoku-Darko, and brought together senior officials from the Trust Fund and the Ho Teaching Hospital.
A key focus of the discussions was the Fund’s successful 50-patient pilot programme, which provided financial assistance to individuals suffering from chronic and life-threatening conditions.
Officials reviewed the outcomes of the pilot, identified operational challenges and discussed measures to improve service delivery as the programme is expanded to cover more beneficiaries.
The two institutions also assessed the ongoing onboarding of patients onto the GMTFcare digital platform, with discussions focusing on digital registration, claims processing and reimbursement mechanisms.
They identified areas requiring further attention and explored ways to resolve implementation challenges to make the system more efficient at the facility level.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for the GMTF and Ho Teaching Hospital to discuss practical steps towards the establishment of a Cardiology Centre for the Volta Region, following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent pledge to support the project.
Both sides deliberated on the requirements for bringing the President’s vision to fruition, including the necessary support, possible implementation strategies and how the proposed centre could complement existing specialist services at the Ho Teaching Hospital.
The discussions formed part of efforts to translate the President’s commitment into a workable plan that responds to the region’s growing need for specialised cardiac care while aligning with the long-term development needs of the hospital.
The GMTF delegation included the Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Richmond Edem Kpotosu, and the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana.
The two legislators commended President Mahama for prioritising healthcare and taking steps to address the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases through investments in specialised medical services.
Speaking at the meeting, GMTF Administrator AdWoa Obuobia Opoku-Darko reaffirmed the Trust Fund’s commitment to building strong partnerships with healthcare institutions across the country to expand access to affordable specialist care for Ghanaians living with chronic diseases.
She said sustained collaboration with health facilities would be critical to the successful implementation of the Fund’s mandate and the delivery of life-saving interventions to patients who need them.
Madam Opoku-Darko also expressed appreciation to the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, for donating an additional three months of his salary to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund in support of preparations towards the construction of the proposed Cardiology Centre in the Volta Region.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ho Teaching Hospital, Dr Hintermann Mbroh, welcomed the continued partnership with the GMTF and assured the Fund of the hospital’s full commitment to supporting its programmes.
He also pledged the hospital’s cooperation in efforts to advance plans for the establishment of the Cardiology Centre.
