..As Health Committee Chair Says No Ghanaian Will Die for Lack of Cath Lab Under Mahama Legacy Project
The Project Manager for ADB Ghana Medical Systems Group, Mr. Abraham Fiscian, has disclosed that the Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) project at the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, is 100 percent complete and currently in operation.
Mr. Fiscian made this known when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health paid an oversight visit to the facility at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to him, his company specializes in high-end medical equipment supply, installation, and the building of healthcare facilities across the country.
He explained that the current project is a three-site project located at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital, as part of government intervention to provide Cath Lab facilities across the country.
Speaking at Korle Bu, Mr. Fiscian said for the Korle Bu site, there was an existing facility that got burnt and had to be replaced.
"When we came in to replace it, the detailed planning indicated that the space available was not enough. So we had to re-engineer the space before the equipment was supplied and installed," he said.
He noted that all works as of today have been completed, commissioned in June, and the facility is currently in operation.
On the extent of completion, Mr. Fiscian stated: "Here in Korle Bu, it's 100 percent complete."
Touching on maintenance, he said the company has a one-year equipment maintenance agreement.
"There's an equipment maintenance for a year that we are handling. Subsequently, the hospital must take over the maintenance. And for every facility like this, you have the equipment maintenance component, and you have the building maintenance component," he explained.
He added that the company will be available for the next 12 months to address any technical or building challenges.
"We are called at any time there's a physical building challenge or an equipment challenge. They call us and then we address whatever the challenges. And so far, our response period has been good. As soon as they call, we come over and get whatever it is done. We have all the expertise in the country to handle all these challenges," Mr. Fiscian assured.
No Ghanaian Will Die for Lack of Cath Lab – Health Committee Chair
Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and MP for Nabdam, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, expressed satisfaction with the state of the facility after witnessing live procedures.
" We are here today to visit the Cardiothoracic Unit, specifically the Cath Lab Centre. When we went there, we saw everything live. There were patients there. There were patients undergoing procedure at the lab, and all this is being done free of charge," Dr. Nawaane said.
He disclosed that payment through the facility is being taken over by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, headed by Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku.
"I must say that as a nation, we are doing very well. And thanks to the President of the Republic, President Mahama, he wants this project to be a legacy project, and through his Minister Akandoh, they are implementing it to the letter," he stated.
Dr. Nawaane said the Committee was in Kumasi the previous day to inspect the Komfo Anokye project, which he said will be completed by close of year, with the Tamale Teaching Hospital project also under construction.
"I'm hoping that very, very, very soon, no Ghanaian, and I repeat, no Ghanaian will die because of the lack of Cath Lab in this country. We need to manage our emergencies very well. Emergency management is about time, and we are reducing the time that it will take for a patient to get to a centre," he emphasized.
He also commended government for prompt payment to contractors.
"Yesterday in Kumasi, I was there, and then the contractor said that the government and then the financiers are not owing them. This is good news to me because wherever we go, sometimes we see contractors not being happy. But this time, the contractor was very, very happy with the payment for their work being done, and I encourage them to finish the work in very good time," Dr. Nawaane added.
He thanked the press for following the Committee and expressed hope for continued collaboration.
