Dr Sammy Ayeh has described the government’s Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, as a “masterstroke” that could significantly reduce preventable deaths in the country’s healthcare system.
In a reflective write-up titled “Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) – The Beginning of an End,” Dr Ayeh explained that the planned retooling of major hospitals with cardiac catheterisation laboratories and other advanced equipment could save thousands of lives annually.
He described cardiac catheterisation as a highly sophisticated but minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat severe heart conditions.
“It involves the use of fine, flexible tubes introduced through blood vessels to reach the heart and cardiovascular system. This technology enables life-saving interventions such as the treatment of myocardial infarction, valve replacements, and stent insertions,” he wrote.
Dr Ayeh lamented that many deaths in Ghana occur not because conditions are untreatable, but because of the absence of critical medical infrastructure.
“I have witnessed far too often the painful loss of loved ones, friends, and family members to medical emergencies and preventable illnesses… These are deaths that should never have happened,” he said.
He referenced the recent death of a senior emergency physician at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), describing it as a tragic example of systemic failure.
“The cruel irony is that the very hospital to which he devoted his life lacked the cardiac catheterization equipment that could have saved his own. What a devastating indictment of our system. What a national shame,” he wrote.
Dr Ayeh argued that the MahamaCares initiative represents a major shift in Ghana’s healthcare approach, moving away from crisis response to long-term preparedness.
“It represents the beginning of the end of untimely, preventable, and unfortunate deaths that have, for far too long, been normalized within our healthcare system,” he stated.
He said the programme aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of a citizen-centred healthcare system that is reliable, safe, and responsive to the real needs of Ghanaians.
“For once, hope is not just rhetoric. It is taking form in wires, tubes, technology, and will,” he added.
About the Author
