The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) has inaugurated a newly rebuilt and expanded Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, marking a major restoration of a vital resource for advanced cardiac care in Ghana.
This state-of-the-art facility resumes operations nearly a year after a devastating fire destroyed the original laboratory, causing a significant disruption in advanced heart procedures and limiting access to specialised treatment for cardiac patients nationwide.
The upgraded laboratory is now set to improve access to cardiovascular interventions and further strengthen specialist cardiac services across the country. At the inauguration ceremony, GMTF Administrator Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku emphasized the project’s significance in restoring Ghana’s critical healthcare infrastructure.
“Today, Ghana answers that test. We gather to restore a lifeline, reclaim a critical pillar of our national health security, and affirm that we do not abandon what saves lives,” she declared.
Commissioned in January 2017, the original Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory enabled complex heart procedures to be performed locally, reducing the need for patients to travel overseas for treatment. The fire incident on March 7, 2025, however, temporarily halted these interventions at Ghana’s main referral hospital.
After a thorough assessment in January 2026, the GMTF resolved to not only rebuild the laboratory but also expand and upgrade it to meet the growing demand for specialist cardiovascular services. Construction commenced on February 17, 2026, and was completed in less than five months.
Mrs. Darko-Opoku highlighted that the new laboratory features enhanced technology, increased capacity, and improved systems, ensuring more efficient and safer cardiac care. The facility is scheduled to begin a new cardiac intervention programme on July 12, 2026, in collaboration with the National Cardiothoracic Centre, cardiologists from the United States, the Mount Carmel Foundation, Africa World Airlines, and the GMTF.
Under this programme, 30 patients from around the country will receive Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device procedures, specialised treatments that would otherwise be out of reach for many.
The GMTF, founded to support patients with chronic non-communicable diseases, continues to invest in specialist training, healthcare infrastructure, and medical research. Mrs. Darko-Opoku described the restored laboratory as more than just a facility, saying it is a place “where science meets compassion, where expertise meets equity, and where families can receive lifesaving care with dignity.”
She also expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for his support in the reconstruction, underscoring the project as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com