A new ultra-modern Urology and nephrology Centre of Excellence constructed at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has been completed and ready to be operationalized.
The €38 million project was constructed with a credit facility by the government as part of its commitment to the delivery of universal health coverage and quality healthcare for all.
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, the representative of the President appointed to oversee the Ministry of Health in accordance with Article 58 of the 1992 constitution, made some observations about the project during his working visit to Korle Bu on April 29, 2024. His visit was part of his schedule to inspect key government health projects and interventions.
The three-storey facility had been fully equipped with beds, furniture, and ultra-modern equipment with interior and exterior works completed. The facility has a 31-bed dialysis station for persons with chronic kidney disease and a 70-bed space for genito-urinary patients. Units under the department include outpatient, diagnostic and treatment, in-patient services, administration, training room, management and technology center.
The team, which was conducted around the facilities by the Chief Executive Officer of the KBTH, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah also visited the refurbished Fevers Unit, which had been transformed into a modern infectious disease centre.
Dr Okoe-Boye said the facility would offer advanced treatment to persons with genito-urinary conditions, chronic and acute kidney failures, as well as nephrology services such as kidney transplants.
“The centre will also provide outpatient services and serve as a resource base to conduct research into urology and nephrology cases,” he said.
He said the facility was initiated by the current government as part of its commitment to the delivery of universal health coverage and quality healthcare for all.
“It is common knowledge that there is a lack of specialized care both at the primary and tertiary level when it comes to the practice of urology and nephrology in the country which needs to be addressed.
“In response to this, a proposal was initially designed to run as a Public Private Partnership model to fund the construction of the facility.
“Under the PPP, the investor was going to run the facility until they had recouped their investment before handing over,” he said.
However, Dr Okoe-Boye said that the current government, recognizing the importance of such a project decided to renegotiate the project and revise the model of payment.
“The financial arrangement as well as the construction operational arrangement and payback period posed a challenge, as a result, the government in 2017, decided to replace this model with an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Turkey model under an Export Credit Arrangement (ECA).
“The Government therefore secured a loan of thirty-eight (38) million Euros for the construction of the modern Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital,” he said.
He said in relation to that, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on August 11, 2020, cut the sod for the construction and equipping of the 101-bed facility.
Regarding the fevers unit, now the infectious disease centre, Dr. Okoe-Boye said the government chose to transform it because it was in a very sorry state, but it acknowledged that people had to receive and offer healthcare service in dignity.
“This project was initiated by the government as part of the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This was an existing building that was remodeled in line with the COVID Infection Prevention and Control Practices to serve both as a treatment centre and also to continue to perform its function as a fevers unit.
“The project commenced from 1st March 2021 to 31st December 2023, at a contract sum of GH¢23,521,654.94,” he said.
He continued, “The place has been renovated and retrofitted with modern equipment. It has two intensive care units with a total capacity of 120 beds.
“It has also been fitted with a modern laboratory to be operated by the GHS’s reference laboratory. The laboratory has a similar capacity as the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
“The laboratory can conduct an examination into all manner of viruses and infectious disease examinations, including Lassa fever and Marburg.
“It has a reception and waiting areas, counselling rooms, consulting rooms, staff lounge, 50-seater meeting room, IT and general administrative offices, X-ray and imaging rooms, patient wards (male, female, and paediatric, decontamination rooms and changing rooms for clinical purposes among others,” he added.