Accra, May 25, GNA – The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares, is expanding access to advanced heart care through the procurement and restoration of Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories, commonly called Cath Labs, at major teaching hospitals across the country.
The rollout covers the Komfo Anokye, Tamale and Korle Bu Teaching hospitals.
Health experts say the development could significantly improve emergency cardiac care, reduce outbound medical tourism and strengthen Ghana’s capacity to manage rising cases of cardiovascular disease locally.
What is a Cath Lab?
A Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory is a specialised medical unit equipped with advanced imaging technology used to diagnose and treat diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels.
The facility derives its name from a procedure known as cardiac catheterisation, where doctors insert a thin flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel, usually through the wrist or groin, and guide it towards the heart.
Using real-time X-ray imaging, specialists can observe blood flow, detect blockages, assess heart function and perform minimally invasive procedures without opening the chest.
Cath Labs are considered one of the most important components of modern cardiovascular medicine because they support both diagnosis and treatment.
Procedures performed in a Cath Lab
Doctors use Cath Labs to investigate several heart conditions, including blocked arteries, valve abnormalities, congenital heart defects and unexplained chest pain.
One of the most common procedures is coronary angiography, where contrast dye is injected into coronary arteries to identify narrowing or blockage of blood vessels supplying the heart.
In emergency situations, particularly during heart attacks, specialists use the Cath Lab to quickly restore blood flow to blocked arteries through a procedure known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).
Why the expansion under Mahama Cares matters
For many years, advanced heart treatment in Ghana was accessible to only a limited number of patients.
People suffering heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular conditions often faced long delays, costly travel to Accra or expensive medical trips abroad.
For many families, the financial burden was devastating, while for others, treatment came too late.
Cardiovascular diseases are increasingly becoming a major public health concern in Ghana and across Africa.
Conditions such as hypertension, stroke, heart failure, diabetes-related cardiovascular disease and congenital heart disease are rising steadily due to urbanisation, unhealthy diets, stress, obesity and ageing populations.
Despite the growing burden, access to advanced cardiac treatment has remained limited for many years.
Most specialised interventional cardiac procedures have traditionally been concentrated in Accra, forcing patients from other regions to travel long distances for care.
Health professionals say the expansion of Cath Labs under Mahama Cares represents a major step towards decentralising specialist healthcare.
The facility at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is expected to serve patients across the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Western North regions, as well as parts of the middle belt.
The Tamale Teaching Hospital project is particularly significant because northern Ghana has historically had limited access to advanced cardiac intervention services.
Experts believe the availability of Cath Lab services in Tamale could improve emergency response times, reduce referrals to Accra and improve survival chances for patients experiencing heart attacks and other cardiovascular emergencies.
At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the restoration and upgrading of existing facilities is expected to increase patient capacity, reduce waiting times and strengthen specialist training and research.
More than heart disease
Although Cath Labs are widely associated with heart attacks, they are also used for other specialised procedures, including stroke intervention, treatment of peripheral vascular disease, congenital heart defect repair and minimally invasive valve replacement procedures.
The facilities require highly trained multidisciplinary teams comprising interventional cardiologists, cardiac nurses, radiographers, anaesthetists, cardiac technologists and biomedical engineers to mann the facilities.
For this reason, government officials and health experts have emphasised the importance of investing in local training and technical expertise alongside infrastructure expansion.
Challenges ahead
Despite the progress, significant challenges remain.
Cath Labs are expensive to build and maintain, while consumables such as stents, catheters, balloons and contrast dye require continuous supply.
The equipment also depends on stable electricity and specialised maintenance systems.
In addition, Ghana still faces shortages in specialist personnel, including interventional cardiologists and cardiac nurses.
The resolution of these challenges would go a long way to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of Cath Lab services, improving access to life-saving cardiac care and strengthen Ghana’s overall healthcare system.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe