Health Minister commits to advancing paediatric cardiac care in Ghana

Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving paediatric and congenital cardiac care across the country, describing it as a critical but under-recognized area of child health.

In a keynote speech read on his behalf by the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Frank Raji, at the National Stakeholders Seminar on Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care held at the Kempinski Grand Hotel in Accra, the Minister stressed the urgent need for a coordinated, long-term strategy to address congenital heart conditions in children.

“Each year, thousands of children in Ghana are born with congenital heart defects. Many require timely, specialized care to survive and thrive. Yet access to this care remains limited due to financial, geographical, and workforce constraints,” the Minister noted.

He praised the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) for its dedicated efforts in improving cardiac services and acknowledged the role of international partners including Children’s HeartLink and Boston Children’s Hospital, whose technical support, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing efforts continue to strengthen local health systems.

“This seminar marks a critical step in uniting the voices and efforts of clinicians, policymakers, partners, and community stakeholders. It aligns with the implementation of the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) launched in September 2024 and the subsequent inauguration of the NSOAP Implementation Steering Committee in April this year,” he stated.

Hon. Akandoh outlined the Ministry’s threefold commitment: strengthening the specialized health workforce through partnerships and training, mobilizing resources and infrastructure to expand services beyond Accra, and advancing policy frameworks that promote equitable and sustainable cardiac care for children.

He revealed plans to integrate paediatric cardiac care into the broader national child health strategy.

This will include the development of a national paediatric cardiac care plan, expanding the role of the NCTC as a Center of Excellence, and enhancing data systems to improve planning, tracking, and evaluation.

The Minister challenged stakeholders to reflect on three crucial pillars — access, capacity, and sustainability — as they deliberate on the way forward.

“Let us ask: How do we ensure no child is denied care because of where they live or their family’s income? How do we train and retain the needed workforce? And what policies and financing structures are needed to institutionalize these services sustainably?” he questioned.

He concluded with a passionate call for collaboration: “This seminar is not the end but a beginning — a beginning of stronger coordination, clearer policy direction, and deeper collective responsibility. Let us commit to working together to save hearts and build futures.”

The seminar brought together directors from the Ministry of Health, healthcare professionals, representatives from the National Cardiothoracic Centre, and global health partners committed to reducing child mortality and improving paediatric cardiac health outcomes in Ghana.

Speaking on behalf of Dr. Belinda Afriyie Nimako, Director, PPME Technical Expert, MOH; Benjamin Nyakutse, Deputy Director, Technical, PPME, MoH said "Health systems across the globe are set up basically to improve the lives of people. That depends on the burden of disease, and other contextual variables. For Ghana, our health system has evolved — from the pre-colonial era, through independence, to now — based on disease burden"

"Historically, it was largely communicable diseases, maternal and child health issues, and nutrition. But currently, we’re seeing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) climb up the epidemiological profile, indicating our disease landscape is changing"

He stressed that Ghana health system strategy was based on constitutional provisions — Article 34.2 of the 1992 Constitution, under the Directive Principles of State Policy; among other things, it mandates the state to provide good healthcare for all Ghanaians.

"In that regard, the Ministry of Health updated the 2007 National Health Policy, producing the 2020 National Health Policy. The core message of this policy is to promote a "whole-of-government" and "whole-of-society" approach, because only about 10% of what causes ill health is clinical. The rest lies in the environment and other determinants"

This roadmap, he outlined the service dimensions across the life course — from health promotion and prevention, to curative care, rehabilitation, and palliative services.

He added that Ghana has also added mental health and health emergencies to these, recognizing our unique challenges.

"These frameworks guide Ghana’s health sector up to 2030. Supporting Policies and Strategies. Several other policy bundles support the National Health Policy: National Essential Health Service Package: Outlines services from the community to tertiary (and quaternary) levels, ensuring continuity and referrals"

"National Patient Referral Policy: About to be launched, this will further strengthen access pathways. National Health Care Quality Strategy: Emphasizes reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health — and nutrition (RMNCAH+N). Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Policy (March 2022): Targets the current leading causes of morbidity and mortality. National Health Insurance Policy Framework: Focuses on sustainable financing for health services. Private Sector Development Policy: Encourages partnerships for service delivery"

"Child Health Standards and Strategy: Focuses on service integration and pediatric priorities. Human Resource for Health Policy and Strategy: Addresses training, deployment, and retention challenges"

"Out-of-pocket payments remain the main source of CHD surgical funding. This raises serious equity issues. For many families, these costs are simply unaffordable — and so they turn to prayer and hope"

Touching on National Cardiothoracic Centre; sustaining excellence through partnership and compassion; Dr. Kow Entsua-Mensah, Director, National Cardiothoracic Centre, Korle Bu said "Established in 1989 and officially commissioned in April 1992, the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) has evolved into a medical powerhouse in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Ghana"

He mentioned that it had significantly reduced outbound medical travel by providing world-class surgical and diagnostic services within the country.

"In 2024, the Centre saw remarkable growth across its units: Outpatient Unit: Served 10,500 patients, Inpatient Ward: 815 admissions across 36 monitored beds; Operating Theatres: Two fully equipped theatres conducted 486 procedures, with an annual average of 450–700 surgeries in recent years and Intensive Care & High Dependency Units: 437 combined admissions across 8 beds"

"Cardiac Catheterization Suite: Performed 104 adult and 19 pioneering paediatric catheterizations, in partnership with Kinder Health International and General Asamoah Foundation. Radiology: Over 4,800 imaging studies completed. Dialysis Unit: Conducted 4,034 sessions with 10 machines, making it the premier dialysis centre at Korle Bu and potentially in Ghana"

"Human Resource: Comprises 3 adult surgeons, 2 paediatric cardiac surgeons, 3 anesthetists, 5 anesthetist trainees, cardiologists, and 31 ICU/HDU nurses—with 10 trained in critical care and 3 currently in training. The Centre performed 146 paediatric surgeries in 2024"

"Although the Government of Ghana funds staff salaries, over 95% of surgeries are supported by charities, as most patients cannot afford the cost of procedures. Less than 0.5% of surgeries are funded out-of-pocket or by private health insurance"

Key partners, he mentioned include:

1. Ghana Heart Foundation – A founding partner that still supports major equipment purchases.

2. Children’s Heart Foundation – Formerly Golden Heart Trust, it has funded 231 surgeries to date.

3. Compassion International – Has sponsored 63 surgeries for children from underprivileged communities.

4. Awake Mineral Water Fund (Casablanca Group) – Backed 135 surgeries, including 70 for children.

5. Shenyang and Shenyue Children’s Heart Foundation – Sponsored 92 patients within 2 years, with a target of 50 children annually under a 10-year MOU.

Other supportive organizations, he further disclosed include Plan International, Trey Foundation, Springfield Foundation, IT Consortium, Tobinco Foundation, Graphic Media Fund, and B.A. Okai Ministries, among many others.

The Centre’s continued success hinges on these critical partnerships.

"As demand for services increases, especially for paediatric heart care, sustained collaboration and philanthropic support remain vital"

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith