Cancer patients at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital are facing challenges due to the limited capacity of the hospital’s radiotherapy machine, leading to prolonged delays and suspended appointments.
The machine, which has been plagued by frequent breakdowns, was recently repaired but is still operating at reduced capacity. This has severely restricted the number of treatment sessions that can be conducted daily, leaving many patients waiting for scheduling.
One such patient is eight-year-old Joshua, who is currently undergoing his 33rd cancer treatment session. Speaking to Joy News correspondent Rejoice Semefa Kpesu, Joshua shared his pain and appealed to Former President John Mahama for help with his treatment fees. He also expressed his desire to return to school soon.
However, Joshua is among the fortunate few receiving treatment, as many other patients have been instructed to await scheduling, with appointments for those needing more than six sessions currently on hold. The hospital’s oncologists are waiting for comprehensive maintenance for the radiotherapy machine, which is currently only operational for 10 sessions per day.
Professor Joel Yarney, head of the Oncology Department at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, acknowledged the challenges, stating that management has decided to treat patients who have about five to 10 treatments left as a stop-gap measure.
The Minority in Parliament has called on Health Minister Dr. Bernard Oko Boye to address concerns regarding the hospital’s reliance on a single radiotherapy machine. Dr. Mark-Kurt Nawane, Deputy Ranking Member of the Health Committee in Parliament, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for comprehensive repairs to meet the needs of cancer patients.
It is crucial to pay attention to Non-Communicable Diseases, particularly cancer, as the current situation at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital underscores the importance of adequate resources and infrastructure for cancer treatment.
