The Ghana Medical Trust Fund plans to build three new cancer treatment centres across the country. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to improve cancer care. Administrator Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku announced the plans. The goal is to strengthen oncology services for Ghanaians.
This project aims to fix major problems in cancer treatment access. Ghana faces severe shortages of radiotherapy and diagnostic machines. These are crucial for detecting and treating cancer. The new centres will offer integrated diagnostics, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. They will also house advanced technologies like Gamma Knife systems. The first pilot centre will be at Ridge Hospital in Accra.
This effort fits into Ghana's larger health sector challenges. The country has only two public radiotherapy machines and one private machine. All are located in Accra and Kumasi. This forces patients from other regions to travel far for treatment. They often wait two to three months for appointments. The shortage also extends to important diagnostic tools like PET scanners and MRI machines. These are vital for effective cancer care.
Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the Fund, detailed the long-term vision. She explained the initiative targets critical gaps in specialised healthcare. The Fund aims to bring state-of-the-art equipment and services closer to all Ghanaians. This expansion is a significant step towards reducing health disparities.
These new centres will boost treatment access for cancer patients. They are expected to significantly reduce waiting times. Patients will no longer need to travel long distances for care. This will greatly ease the financial and emotional burden on families. The government and health sector stakeholders will closely watch the pilot phase at Ridge Hospital. Its success will determine the rollout strategy for the other two centres. This expansion represents a major investment in public health infrastructure.