Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, has announced that the government’s Nationwide Patient Support Programme will officially commence in June 2026 following the successful completion of a pilot phase earlier this year.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on May 11, Darko-Opoku revealed that the programme had already delivered life-saving medical support to dozens of patients across the country during its trial implementation stage.
According to her, the Board of Trustees approved a pilot programme in February involving 50 patients in order to test critical operational systems, including patient onboarding, treatment monitoring, and claims management processes ahead of the nationwide rollout.
She disclosed that beneficiaries under the pilot phase received treatment support for a range of serious medical conditions, including heart surgeries, brain surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and orthopaedic procedures.
More than GH¢4.8 million has reportedly been spent on treatments so far, with beneficiaries ranging from six-month-old infants to 85-year-old patients treated across 11 hospitals nationwide.
Darko-Opoku explained that the first phase of the programme will primarily concentrate on cancer treatment following consultations with medical experts, stakeholders, and the programme’s Technical Oversight Committee.
The approved benefit package will initially cover breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and several childhood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma, retinoblastoma, nephroblastoma, and soft tissue sarcomas.
She added that additional medical conditions are expected to be incorporated into the programme before the end of the year as the initiative expands.
To qualify for support under the fund, applicants must satisfy three key requirements: they must be Ghanaian citizens, active holders of a National Health Insurance Authority membership card, and must be diagnosed with a medical condition approved under the scheme.
Darko-Opoku stressed that patients will not be permitted to apply directly through the secretariat, explaining that the system has been designed to operate digitally in order to ensure efficiency and dignity in service delivery.
Applications will instead be initiated by specialist clinicians at approved healthcare facilities through dedicated digital platforms linked to the Trust Fund system.
The programme will initially operate through 29 designated hospitals across Ghana to improve access to specialised healthcare support.
Participating facilities include Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ho Teaching Hospital, Sunyani Teaching Hospital, and University of Ghana Medical Centre.
Other participating facilities include 37 Military Hospital, International Maritime Hospital, The Bank Hospital, and Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital.
The Administrator further disclosed that the Trust Fund has developed a digital platform integrated with hospital management systems to streamline patient onboarding, clinical auditing, and claims processing.
Installation and staff training activities have already commenced across participating hospitals.
In addition, trained patient navigators have been deployed to all enlisted facilities to assist beneficiaries throughout the treatment journey.
According to Darko-Opoku, these navigators will help patients complete enrolment procedures, understand treatment pathways, and navigate the broader continuum of care, ensuring smoother access to support services under the programme.
The nationwide rollout is expected to significantly improve access to specialised treatment for vulnerable patients while strengthening healthcare coordination and accountability within Ghana’s medical support system.
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