KATH to Establish First Catheterisation Lab in 70 Years
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi will soon commission a Catheterisation (CATH) laboratory, the first in its seven-decade history, to strengthen cardiac care delivery for millions of Ghanaians. The life-saving facility is expected to be completed within the next two to four months.
KATH, one of Ghana’s foremost referral hospitals serving 12 out of the country’s 16 regions, has operated since 1955 without a CATH lab an absence long considered a major gap in the nation’s health infrastructure. Public pressure to address this deficit intensified in July 2025 after the sudden death of Dr. Kwame Adu Ofori, an Emergency Physician and former staff of the hospital, who succumbed to a heart attack. His passing reignited calls for urgent investment in advanced cardiovascular care facilities.
Announcing the development at the hospital’s 2025 Mid-Year Performance Review, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, confirmed that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), is spearheading the project.
“The Ministry of Health, through the NHIA, has taken it upon itself. It is not just a gadget; it is a complete system made up of various components. Procurement processes have begun, and within the next couple of months, we hope to see it completed,” Dr. Baidoo stated.
A catheterisation lab is crucial for diagnosing and treating blocked coronary arteries, performing angioplasty, and conducting other minimally invasive cardiac procedures that reduce deaths from heart disease the leading global cause of mortality.
Beyond the CATH lab, Dr. Baidoo acknowledged that KATH still grapples with severe equipment challenges. Key facilities such as CT scans, MRI machines, fluoroscopy units, oxygen plants, and central sterilisation systems are either non-functional or operating below capacity. Essential diagnostic tools like mammogram machines are also completely unavailable.
To close these gaps, KATH management is exploring Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to attract private investment in critical infrastructure. “Procuring such facilities requires millions of cedis, which the hospital does not have. We want to embark on a PPP arrangement where individuals or companies with resources can invest, and through proper legal frameworks, we use the facilities and share profits,” Dr. Baidoo explained.
The establishment of the CATH lab is therefore being viewed as a landmark step towards modernising KATH and enhancing specialised healthcare delivery in Ghana.
