The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has assured that the two state-of-the-art cardiology centres currently under construction at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) will be completed by November this year,
The facilities, funded by the GMTF, are expected to significantly expand access to specialised cardiac care while reducing the need for patients from the middle and northern parts of the country to travel to Accra for advanced cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment.
Ms Darko Opoku disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, in Accra yesterday.
The visit formed part of the Fund’s stakeholder engagement efforts aimed at strengthening collaboration with traditional authorities and seeking their support to improve quality healthcare delivery across the country.
The occasion also saw the presentation of assorted drinks, bottled water and an undisclosed amount of money to the Ga Traditional Council ahead of this year’s Homowo festival.
According to Ms Darko Opoku, the two facilities were progressing steadily and will be delivered as fully equipped, purpose-built cardiology centres capable of providing comprehensive cardiac care.
She said the centres would include catheterisation laboratories, operating theatres, intensive care units, consulting rooms, oxygen systems and other specialised facilities.
The Administrator disclosed that more than 20 patients had already received treatment at the refurbished cardiology centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) since it became operational following its recent refurbishment.
She reaffirmed the GMTF’s commitment to its four key pillars of supporting persons living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), investing in medical equipment and infrastructure, promoting specialist training, and advancing research and innovation.
On patient support, Ms Darko Opoku explained that to access the Fund, beneficiaries must be registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and be referred by a specialist at a public tertiary health facility to qualify for assistance.
“For now, we have started supporting patients diagnosed with cancer. We are covering eight types of cancer, but more disease conditions will be included by the end of the year,” she said.
She noted that the Fund would finance only treatments undertaken in Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen local healthcare capacity and reduce the need for patients to seek medical care abroad.
Ms Darko Opoku appealed to traditional authorities to help create awareness about the initiative and encourage eligible patients to take advantage of the support available.
The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, commended the GMTF for the work it had undertaken within the past year, describing the initiative as timely in addressing critical gaps in Ghana’s healthcare system.
He also called for improved post-treatment care and increased investment in medical research to further strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
