Novartis has announced its readiness to partner with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) to broaden specialised healthcare services for people living with chronic diseases. Dr Lutz Hegeman, the company’s Global Health President and Swiss Country Director, said the firm would support the Trust Fund through research and development, medical equipment and professional training.
During a visit to GMTF headquarters, Hegeman highlighted the alignment between the Trust Fund’s mandate to close gaps in healthcare delivery and Novartis’ focus on improving access to specialised treatment. He pledged the company’s willingness to provide equipment such as MRI and CT scanners, and to fund training programmes that build the capacity of Ghanaian healthcare professionals.
GMTF Administrator Adjoa Obuobia Darko‑Opoku used the meeting to showcase the Fund’s achievements since its launch a year ago. She cited the commissioning of an ultra‑modern Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle‑Bu Teaching Hospital, the donation of medical equipment to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the construction of two cardiology centres at Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching Hospitals.
Beyond infrastructure, the Trust Fund has begun disbursing financial support directly to accredited treatment centres to help patients cover costs for dialysis, cancer treatment, renal care and cardiovascular diseases that fall outside the National Health Insurance Scheme. “We have also spearheaded ongoing specialist medical training and efforts to bridge critical equipment deficits, including MRI and CT scanners, in regional facilities,” Darko‑Opoku added.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen ties between Novartis and the GMTF in specialised healthcare, research and development, medical equipment provision and professional training. The partnership aims to make high‑cost chronic care more affordable and accessible to Ghana’s population.
