The government has commenced the construction of a cardiology and interventional centre with a Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, a move expected to significantly improve cardiac care in the northern sector of the country.
For years, the absence of a Cath lab at KATH; Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital, has limited the hospital’s ability to provide timely and effective cardiology treatment.
A Cath lab is a specialised unit where doctors diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel conditions using minimally invasive procedures.
In July 2025, the challenge gained national attention following the death of a cardiologist at KATH, Dr. Kwame Adu Ofori, who reportedly suffered a heart attack.
The absence of a Cath lab at the facility meant he could not receive the urgent intervention required. Efforts to transfer him to Accra for treatment were unsuccessful, highlighting the critical gaps in Ghana’s cardiac care system.
Speaking at a consultative forum for KATH management, consultants, and senior specialists, Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, said the lack of a Cath lab has often resulted in delays in treatment, forcing doctors to refer critically ill patients to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, sometimes with fatal consequences.
“We lose a lot of people because of this. The new cardiovascular centre, being constructed under the government’s Medical Trust Fund, will drastically reduce referrals and save lives, when completed”, Dr Baidoo emphasized.
Consultant Cardiologist at KATH, Dr. Lambert Tetteh Appiah, explained that once completed, the facility will enable the hospital to manage heart attacks and other complex cardiac conditions promptly, improving survival rates and overall patient outcomes.
“Data at KATH over the last 10 years shows that heart attack or cardiac issues have gone up by over 250 per cent. So, the burden is there. What has been lacking is avenue to intervene. So, if the facility becomes operational at KATH, it’s going to serve the majority of Ghanaians and enhance cardio treatment”.
The project is expected to be completed within four months and will serve not only patients in Ashanti Region but also those from the northern parts of the country.
By Ibrahim Abubakar
