A group photograph of people present at the launch
Fortis Healthcare in partnership with Treat Aid Ghana Limited has launched the Fortis Information Centre in Accra to provide information and professional guidance to patients seeking specialised medical treatment abroad, particularly in India.
The centre is designed to create a seamless link between patients in Ghana, their local doctors and medical specialists at Fortis Hospitals in India.
Director for Treat Aid Ghana, Hilary Denise Arko-Dadzie, said the centre will help patients and families navigate the complex process of seeking treatment abroad, serving as a point to access specialists, explore treatment options and make practical arrangements for travel to India.
She stressed that the initiative is not intended to replace Ghana’s healthcare system but to complement it.
“After whatever procedure they will have in India, when they come back we will be monitoring and following through together with their doctors in Ghana and the doctors in India,” she said.
Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Richard Adanu, said the centre will serve as a bridge connecting Ghanaians to advanced healthcare services available in India.
He noted that despite Ghana’s progress in healthcare delivery and training of specialist professionals, certain specialised services remain unavailable.
“Ghana like many other African countries, still has some way to go in providing the full range of specialist services to its population,” he said, noting that some patients still have to be referred abroad for advanced treatment.
He identified India as a suitable destination due to its availability of specialised medical services and relatively accessible immigration arrangements for Ghanaians.
Prof. Adanu said patients seeking treatment abroad often face difficulties navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems and dealing with logistical challenges while coping with illness.
He called for equity and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to be central to the centre’s operations.
“Ghana has defined Universal Health Coverage as 80 percent of her population have access to quality healthcare without going through catastrophic cost,” he said.
He urged the centre to establish links with health financing agencies, including private health insurance companies in Ghana and abroad, to reduce the financial burden on patients requiring treatment outside the country.
He also stressed the need for strong collaboration between Fortis Healthcare and hospitals and medical specialists in Ghana to ensure continuity of care after patients return home.
By Florence Adom Asamoah
