The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) is intensifying efforts to bridge critical gaps in specialised healthcare delivery in the Volta Region, with a focus on medical equipment, specialist training and financial support for patients battling chronic and life-threatening conditions.
The Administrator of the Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, said addressing the gaps requires a comprehensive approach that combines financial assistance for patients with investment in diagnostic equipment, specialist expertise and effective referral systems.
She was speaking in Ho during an engagement with medical professionals and healthcare stakeholders as part of the Fund’s first-anniversary reflection activities and nationwide sensitisation tour.
The event, dubbed “One Year On – An Evening of Reflection,” brought together the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, medical directors, specialists, healthcare professionals and representatives of Roche Ghana.
Ms Darko-Opoku urged health professionals to identify and document critical gaps in specialised care, including equipment shortages, inadequate diagnostic capacity, referral challenges and limited specialist services. She called on them to submit evidence-based recommendations to guide the Fund’s interventions and improve patient outcomes.
She explained that GMTF’s interventions are anchored on four pillars: financial support for eligible patients, investment in medical equipment and infrastructure, specialist training, and research and innovation – designed to address both the cost of treatment and the capacity of facilities to deliver quality care.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Ho Teaching Hospital, Medical Director Dr Emmanuel Kasu urged the Fund to prioritise early identification and enrolment of eligible patients, improved referral coordination, patient navigation and accelerated provision of medical equipment.
He also called for the Fund’s impact to be measured beyond enrolment numbers, emphasising timely access to treatment, improved clinical outcomes and reduced financial burden on patients and families.
first-year interventions:
Reflecting on the Fund’s first year, Ms Darko-Opoku said GMTF started its patient-support programme with a pilot involving 50 patients nationwide.
The exercise helped management assess processes, identify implementation challenges and strengthen systems ahead of scale-up.
She highlighted the development of the Fund’s Medicines List and Tariff Manual, prepared with input from specialists and subject-matter experts to guide decisions on eligible treatments, procedures and costs.
On infrastructure, she cited the restoration of the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the development of cardiology centres at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital. She also mentioned a partnership with KGL Group to support a US$10 million diagnostic and imaging centre at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
The Administrator stressed that investment in modern equipment must be matched with specialist training to ensure effective utilisation and better patient outcomes.
improving access and awareness:
Ms Darko-Opoku acknowledged challenges encountered during patient onboarding and said the GMTF Care digital platform is operational, with ongoing improvements to simplify applications, strengthen communication and reduce delays.
She urged healthcare professionals to educate patients about the Fund’s mandate and application procedures, particularly those in remote communities who might otherwise miss out on available support.
She reaffirmed GMTF’s commitment to working with health institutions and stakeholders to close gaps in specialised healthcare, reduce the financial burden of treatment and improve access to quality care.
She commended Volta Regional Minister James Gunu for his support and thanked Roche Ghana for sponsoring the engagement.
