Panellists discussing the development of laparoscopic health procedures in Ghana have called for greater commitment of resources to develop its potential for enhanced safety and efficiency in health procedures.
They stated that although this field of medicine requires significant funding, commitment from all relevant stakeholders, including the government, clients and health facilities, could help accelerate the establishment of laparoscopy centres across the country.
Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, involving the insertion of a fibre optic instrument through the abdominal wall to examine organs in the abdomen for diagnosis or surgery.
Such surgeries have decreased the risk of wound infections, shortened hospital stays, and faster recovery times, which invariably reduce the cost of surgeries.
They were speaking at a panel discussion as part of the end-of-project performance review meeting between the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and the Korean Foundation for International Health Care (KOFIH) in Cape Coast on Tuesday.
The project, which began in January last year, aims to position the CCTH as one of the few centres across the country that delivers endo-laparoscopic services, as well as provide machinery and equipment for the hospital to undertake surgical procedures.
The Community Chest Korea (CCK) funded the project through KOFIH.
The project is also expected to improve the hospital's capabilities in postgraduate training and enhance learning experience.
Limited access
The Lead trainer of Laparoscopy and Medical Director at the Tema General Hospital, Dr Ralph Armah, a panellist, said while laparoscopy was evidently crucial to improving health care delivery, the services were available only in the southern and middle regions of the country, while the northern regions were orphaned.
He further indicated that even in the southern and middle regions where laparoscopic services were available, it was accessible mainly to the middle and high-income classes.
He stated that it was vital to ensure investment in laparoscopy to make it accessible and affordable to many more Ghanaians.
An oncologist and researcher at the National Cancer Centre in South Korea, Kang Mee-Joo, said there was a need for intensified public education on laparoscopy as a safer health option for patients to opt for and push for its upscaling nationwide.
Earlier in her address, she stressed that laparoscopy remained a reliable source of revenue for health facilities and must be explored.
The former Head of Surgery, the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Science, Prof. Kwasi Agyen-Mensah, said there was a need for political will to attract investment in laparoscopy development.
"It is unbelievable that in this day and age, laparoscopy is still a luxury," adding that bureaucracies against potential funders and collaborators must be removed.
He said laparoscopy must be critical in all teaching and regional hospitals.
The Director of Finance at the CCTH, Samuel Asare Tieku, called for the implementation of specific funding models to make laparoscopy procedures less expensive for patients.
Dr Ansah Asamoah of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital said laparoscopy could greatly improve efficiency and reduce the danger of fatalities and emphasised the need for more training of staff and investment in equipment.
CEO CCTH
The Chief Executive Officer of the CCTH, Dr Eric Ngyedu, for his part, said the hospital had 31 staff, including surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and biomedical engineers trained in laparoscopic procedures under the project.
He said simulation machines had been procured to support continuous professional training and 15 patients had successfully undergone laparoscopic surgeries at our facility, providing alternate, safer, less invasive and faster recovery options.
Dr Ngyedu said the CCTH remained committed to strengthening and expanding laparoscopic services.
The Country Director of KOFIH, Bomin Yang, said KOFIH would continue to build collaboration for enhanced health care delivery.
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