The Ministry of Health has commended the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for its role in cancer treatment in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the sector minister at the 25th Anniversary of the Center, Dr Baffour Awuah said the Center has reduced the number of Ghanaian cancer patients being referred out of the country to receive treatment.
Dr. Awuah added that the establishment of the Center has also contributed to the number of cancer survivors in the country.
“This facility 25 years ago may have started with limited resources in terms of equipment, the human resources were more of expatriates and logistical and technical support from the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and the International Atomic Agency and 25 years down the line, it has seen tremendous change. The equipment in the facility has improved, and human resource development has also improved, and the Center is now training nurses from other African countries.
“The Center has reduced referrals of cancer patients outside the country. Now this country can boast of cancer survivors. 25 years of this Center has resulted in comprehensive cancer care in the country, training in the health force for Ghana and Africa, and also a lot of research is ongoing, and we all look forward to achieving universal health coverage in cancer care in the country.”
Meanwhile, one of the pioneers of the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Theophilus Sackey has called on the Health Ministry to help absorb the cost of cancer treatment.
“I think we have gotten to a time where some of the cost of the treatment for cancer has to be picked up by the state and when we do that, we will be able to take out the herbalist, the pastors, and the others that claim they can treat cancer.”
SOurce: citinews