President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned a new nuclear medicine facility at the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC) in Accra.
The Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) hybrid imaging and cyclotron centre is described as West Africa’s first.
The cyclotron installed at the SGMC, owned by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), is said to be the 80th Ion Beam Applications (IBA) cyclotron in the world.
The facility is expected to reduce the need for Ghanaians to travel abroad for advanced diagnostic services and positions the country as a regional hub for specialist medical care.
Unlike conventional imaging, PET-CT technology helps medical professionals understand how the body functions at the cellular and metabolic level.
It allows diseases, particularly cancers, to be detected early, staged more accurately, and monitored more effectively during treatment.
The President stated that for far too long, families had to raise substantial sums for overseas medical referrals.
“Today, we make a bold national statement that this facility must not only make it unnecessary for Ghanaians to seek such services abroad but also make Ghana a hub for specialist medical services in our West African sub-region,” he said.
“I envision people coming from Nigeria and other countries to Ghana for specialist services,” he stated.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, a retired Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Isaac Duose, and the leadership of GNAT, among others.
President Mahama said the centre marked “the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana’s healthcare journey.”
The President announced that the PET-CT scan facility would be registered under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, to offer free care to patients.
“Cancer patients who come here for treatment will be covered under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund,” he said.
Tax exemptions
President Mahama further assured management of the medical centre that the government would consider requests for tax exemptions on imported medical equipment on a case-by-case basis due to the importance of the investment to healthcare delivery in the country.
He also encouraged the private sector to invest in advanced healthcare infrastructure to complement the government’s efforts in improving health care and promoting medical tourism.
The President revealed that the government was also investing in regional hospitals, cardiovascular treatment centres and other health infrastructure projects across the country to improve healthcare outcomes.
President Mahama outlined several ongoing government initiatives to boost the health sector.
He disclosed that three new catheterisation laboratories have been procured for Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching hospitals to improve diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions.
Additionally, a new cardiothoracic centre is under construction at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He also announced that procurement had started for three new regional hospitals in three of the newly created regions, with three more to follow by the end of 2028.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SGMC, Dr Clement Egyin Edusa, described the new nuclear medicine facility as a transformative step in cancer care delivery in the country.
He explained that PET-CT technology allowed doctors to diagnose diseases, particularly cancers, early and more accurately by studying the body at the cellular and metabolic levels.
“While other technologies show where the problem exists, PET scan technology can help determine the severity of the condition, how aggressively the condition is progressing and whether treatment interventions are working,” he said.
Dr Edusa added that the facility would not only support cancer diagnosis and treatment but also assist in the management of neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases and other complex medical conditions
“We believe that quality medical care should not depend on the ability to travel overseas.
We believe that Ghana deserves the very best when it comes to cancer care,” he said.
Investments
The CEO explained that the hospital had consistently invested in modern healthcare infrastructure, specialist services, advanced technologies and patient-centred care to improve healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Dr Edusa said the centre had already procured the latest version of the Elekta Infinity linear accelerator from Sweden to help manage the growing number of patients requiring precision radiotherapy after diagnosis.
Health is wealth
The President of GNAT, Prosper Tachie, said the association decided to invest in the medical facility because “the greatest wealth of mankind is health.”
He added that GNAT pursued the investment not only for teachers but for the entire nation and generations to come.
“The greatest wealth of mankind is health and it is the reason why the Ghana National Association of Teachers decided to pursue health with our meagre earnings,” he stated.
Source:- graphic.com
