Abuakwa South MP on MahamaCare‘s sustainability. Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, has clarified that the Minority in Parliament is not opposed to the newly passed MahamaCare health initiative in principle. However, he has expressed deep reservations regarding the long-term financial sustainability of the programme. Speaking on JoyNews Prime on Monday, Dr. Agyemang emphasized that the Minority’s concern lies primarily with the way the programme is expected to be financed, rather than the merits of the initiative itself.
The MahamaCare Bill was passed into law on Monday, July 21, under a certificate of urgency. This fast-tracked the legislative process to fulfil a key campaign promise by former President John Dramani Mahama. The new healthcare initiative aims to provide free treatment for individuals suffering from chronic and non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and sickle cell disease. These conditions have long posed a financial burden on families and the healthcare system. MahamaCare is intended to complement the existing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by filling critical gaps in the management and treatment of long-term illnesses, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations.
Despite the broad objectives of the initiative, Dr. Agyemang expressed skepticism about how the programme will be funded. He pointed out that the primary funding source stated in the bill is a reallocation of 20% of the National Health Insurance levy toward the MahamaCare programme. According to him, this decision is problematic, as it redirects funds already earmarked under the NHIS law for other healthcare services.
“We are not opposing the numbers,” Dr. Agyemang explained. “However, our point has to do with the source of funding. The main statutory source of funding outlined in the report submitted to Parliament is that they are going to save 20% of the National Health Insurance levy to finance non-communicable diseases. Why are you in a rush? Why do you rush to bring a bill that is already catered for under the National Health Insurance?”
Dr. Agyemang further argued that this approach represents a form of duplication that could potentially weaken the foundation of the NHIS. According to him, taking resources from one vital healthcare initiative to fund another, without a clear and sustainable financial plan, could end up doing more harm than good. He called on the government to explore alternative or innovative funding strategies instead of merely reallocating existing resources.
Abuakwa South MP on MahamaCare’s sustainability
The Minority’s concerns reflect a broader call for transparency and due diligence in public policy implementation. Dr. Agyemang stressed that while the goal of improving chronic disease care is commendable, the current method of funding raises red flags that should not be overlooked. “This is something that we have to caution Ghanaians about because it is an ingenious way to take from an existing provision to finance another thing that can be effectively catered for under the primary provision, which is the National Health Insurance law,” he said.
According to him, the passage of MahamaCare under a certificate of urgency limited the opportunity for comprehensive scrutiny and debate. The Minority believes that a more deliberate and transparent legislative process would have allowed for deeper discussions around funding, implementation strategies, and accountability mechanisms. Dr. Agyemang suggested that programmes of this scale and impact deserve more time for planning and analysis to ensure they succeed over the long term.
The concerns voiced by the Abuakwa South MP underscore the importance of sustainable funding in public health initiatives. Without adequate budgetary support or innovative revenue streams, even the most well-intentioned programmes risk collapsing under financial strain. As Ghana grapples with both communicable and non-communicable diseases, the call for responsible budgeting and prudent allocation of resources is more critical than ever.
While MahamaCare promises much-needed relief for patients living with chronic conditions, the debate over how it should be financed continues. The Minority is urging the government and stakeholders to revisit the funding mechanism to ensure that the programme is not only launched successfully but can also endure and deliver on its promises in the long term.
Source: www.myjoyonline
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