The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is set to receive a major boost in its diagnostic and treatment capacity under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares), following plans to install new state-of-the-art medical equipment at the country’s premier referral facility.
The announcement was made during a stakeholder engagement between officials of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Under the intervention, the hospital will receive a 128-slice CT scanner, a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine, a digital 3D mammography system, and a recovery ward for its catheterisation laboratory to enhance specialist healthcare delivery.
Officials of the Trust Fund disclosed that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has approved the procurement process, with contractors expected to begin site inspections ahead of the installation of the equipment.
In addition, the Trust Fund revealed that three other critical medical systems—a Spectra Optia Apheresis System, a Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) Multi-Filtrate System, and a Mobile Digital X-ray Unit—have been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for commitment authorisation.
Chief Executive of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, welcomed the intervention, describing the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as a key partner whose support has consistently contributed to improving patient care and expanding access to specialist services.
He noted that several of the hospital’s diagnostic machines have exceeded their expected lifespan after more than a decade of use, creating an urgent need for replacement and upgrades.
According to Dr Adam, although the hospital’s current MRI scanner remains operational, it requires upgrading, while additional capacity is also needed for PET scanning, CT imaging and radiotherapy to meet increasing patient demand.
He further revealed that the hospital recently lost its mammography machine to a fire, a development that has disrupted breast cancer screening services and affected the training of specialist doctors.
“As a tertiary teaching hospital, we cannot continue referring patients and resident doctors elsewhere for mammography services. Replacing this equipment is an urgent priority,” he stated.
The hospital is also pursuing plans to establish a One-Stop Diagnostic Centre, which will house MRI, CT scanning, mammography, PET scanning and other imaging services under one roof to improve efficiency and enhance patient care.
Officials of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund welcomed the proposal, noting that the facility would improve convenience for patients while reinforcing Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s position as Ghana’s leading referral centre for specialised healthcare.
