Ghana opens doors to medical tourism with new Urology and Nephrology Center

GHANA—President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has formally inaugurated the Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana, presenting Ghana as a potential destination for medical tourism in West Africa.

The €38 million (US$ 41 million) Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence was built using a credit facility from Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International AG and insurance coverage from the OeKB Group.

This state-of-the-art facility is designed to offer critical care to patients suffering from urological and nephrological conditions, delivering advanced treatments that were previously unavailable within the country.

The centre is equipped with cutting-edge technology and provides a wide range of services to address Ghana’s increasing burden of kidney diseases and urological disorders.

 Its key features include a 30-suite dialysis station for kidney patients, a 70-bed unit for genito-urinary care, an outpatient department, and comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services.

Additionally, the facility includes inpatient services, administrative offices, public amenities, and staff facilities.

The centre also boasts a research facility, medical and non-medical support services, and a three-year post-construction maintenance and training program to ensure its smooth operation.

President Akufo-Addo hailed the facility as a “significant milestone” in the country’s healthcare sector during the commissioning, highlighting the government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure.

“This centre will place Ghana on the map for medical tourism, serving patients from across the region while generating additional income to ensure its sustainability, ” he stated, adding that the new centre is expected to serve Ghanaians and patients from neighbouring countries.

President Akufo-Addo’s administration has long prioritised healthcare development as part of its broader goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for all Ghanaians.

The President noted that this development aligns with Ghana’s objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and that the commissioning of this centre is one of many initiatives aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare.

He cited the recent commissioning of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in August 2024 and mentioned that several other healthcare projects, including the construction of 11 district hospitals and one polyclinic, are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

These projects are part of the government’s flagship “Agenda 111” initiative, which aims to build district hospitals in every district that currently lacks one.

The President reported that the project is progressing steadily, with eight district hospitals nearing completion and the overall completion rate standing at 69% as of September 2024.

 He expressed confidence that several of these facilities, which are over 90% complete, would be finished by the end of the year.

In addition to expanding healthcare infrastructure, the government is addressing the uneven distribution of healthcare workers across the country, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

President Akufo-Addo urged the Ministry of Health to expedite finalising a draft incentive package to ensure healthcare staff are deployed where they are most needed.

As part of the focus on sustainable healthcare infrastructure, President Akufo-Addo also emphasised the importance of maintaining the Urology and Nephrology Centre to guarantee its longevity.

He called on Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s management to implement a robust preventive maintenance strategy and highlighted the need for community involvement to ensure facility use accountability.

In his concluding remarks, the President expressed gratitude to the project’s financiers, contractors, consultants, healthcare professionals, and international partners, such as Vamed Engineering and its Ghanaian technical consultants.

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