19/10/2026
Parliamentary Select Committee on Health Pays Working Visit to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Hon. Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, has paid a working visit to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to familiarise itself with the operations of the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab), assess its utilisation and identify challenges affecting the delivery and accessibility of specialised cardiac and interventional services.
According to Hon. Dr Nawaane, the visit was also intended to provide the Committee with a better understanding of the operational requirements, infrastructure and human resource needs associated with establishing similar facilities across the country. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) in collaboration with the Hospital, is aimed at expanding access to specialised healthcare and strengthening the country's capacity to manage complex medical conditions.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the CathLab, where members had the opportunity to observe ongoing clinical procedures and gain firsthand insight into the facility's operations. The Committee commended the Hospital for its achievements in providing specialised care, particularly through the use of the CathLab.
The ranking member of the Committee, Hon. Dr Patrick Boakye Yiadom, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Hospital and called on the Government to prioritise the training of doctors and nurses to ensure the effective operation and optimal utilisation of cardiac catheterisation laboratories across the country.
The Board Chairman of the Hospital and a member of the Committee, Hon. Professor Titus Beyuo, highlighted the remarkable achievement of the facility in providing advanced cardiac procedures for over 80 Ghanaians, including more than 30 children.
He underscored the importance of developing specialised clinical teams to operate the proposed Cath Lab facilities in the middle and northern belts of the country. He suggested that Korle Bu could serve as an initial training centre for healthcare professionals before they proceeded abroad for further specialised training.
Addressing the delegation, the Chief Executive of the Hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, described the visit as an important opportunity for constructive engagement and collaboration towards advancing the development of the Hospital and improving healthcare delivery.
He emphasised that achieving the Hospital's objectives required sustained collaboration and collective commitment from relevant stakeholders. He particularly acknowledged the invaluable partnership between the Hospital and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which facilitated the establishment of the Cath Lab.
Dr Adam noted that the facility had significantly enhanced the Hospital's capacity to provide specialised medical services while creating additional opportunities for the training and professional development of healthcare personnel.
He reaffirmed Korle Bu's commitment, as a leading teaching hospital, to developing a highly skilled healthcare workforce capable of meeting the country's growing demand for specialised medical services.
The Chief Executive, however, drew the Committee's attention to some pressing operational challenges confronting the Hospital, particularly the limited capacity of the Emergency Centre to accommodate the increasing number of patients seeking emergency care.
He consequently appealed to the Government and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to support the construction of a new Emergency Centre with a capacity of at least 200 beds to strengthen emergency care delivery, reduce congestion and ease pressure on existing facilities.
Dr Adam also expressed concern about the inadequate number of medical officers and nurses, explaining that although the Hospital continued to train healthcare professionals, many left after completing their training. He stressed the urgent need to recruit and retain additional personnel to sustain service delivery and respond effectively to the increasing demand for healthcare.
Providing further insight into the operations of the CathLab, the Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, disclosed that approximately 80 patients had benefited from the facility since its commissioning in July 2026.
He explained that the Cath Lab provides advanced imaging and diagnostic services and supports a wide range of specialised procedures involving the cardiovascular and vascular systems. He added that the facility is also utilised by neurologists in the management of conditions affecting the brain and blood vessels.
Dr Entsua-Mensah indicated that the facility had helped alleviate the financial burden on patients, as eligible patients whose cases received approval under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund-MahamaCares benefited from financial support for their procedures.
He, however, identified the shortage of adequately trained personnel as a major challenge to the optimal utilisation of the facility and called for additional capacity-building interventions to enable more patients to benefit from its services.
Other members of the Parliamentary Select Committee who participated in the visit included Hon. Frank Yeboah, Hon. Mohammed Ramadan, Hon. Kingsley Agyemang, Hon. Sebastian Sandaare, Hon. Alexander Hottordze and Hon. Dr Thomas Anabah.
The Hospital's delegation included the Director of Medical Affairs, Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere; Director of Administration, Mr Munir Alhassan; Director of Pharmacy, Dr Charles Ofei-Palm; Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services, Mrs. Aimee Akotey; Director of Human Resource, Mr Yehuza Jawula; Director of Finance, Mr Emmanuel Coffie; Chief Internal Auditor, Mr Ibrahim Abu Jajah; Deputy Director of Administration and Executive Assistant, Madam Gertrude Kinney; Head of Public Relations, Mr Mustapha Salifu.
