The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) has inaugurated a rebuilt and expanded Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, restoring a key facility for specialised cardiac care.

The laboratory resumes operations nearly a year after the previous facility was destroyed by fire, an incident that disrupted advanced cardiac procedures and affected access to specialised heart treatment.

The upgraded laboratory is expected to enhance access to cardiovascular interventions and strengthen specialist cardiac services in Ghana.

Speaking at the inauguration, GMTF Administrator Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku said the completion of the project reflects the country's determination to restore critical healthcare infrastructure.

"Today, Ghana answers that test. We gather to restore a lifeline, reclaim a critical pillar of our national health security, and affirm that we do not abandon what saves lives," she said.

The original Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory was commissioned in January 2017 and enabled complex heart procedures to be carried out locally, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.

However, the facility was destroyed by fire on March 7, 2025, temporarily interrupting cardiac interventions at the country's main referral hospital.

Following an assessment in January 2026, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund resolved to rebuild the laboratory while expanding and upgrading it to meet increasing demand for specialised cardiovascular services.

Construction began on February 17, 2026, and was completed in under five months.

Mrs Darko-Opoku said the reconstructed laboratory is more advanced than the original, with upgraded technology, expanded capacity and improved systems to support more efficient and safer cardiac care.

The facility is scheduled to begin a cardiac intervention programme on July 12, 2026, in collaboration with the National Cardiothoracic Centre, cardiologists from the United States, the Mount Carmel Foundation, Africa World Airlines and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

Under the programme, 30 patients from different parts of the country will undergo Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device procedures, giving them access to specialised treatment that many would otherwise struggle to afford.

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which was established to support patients living with chronic non-communicable diseases, said its work also includes investment in specialist training, healthcare infrastructure and medical research.

Mrs Darko-Opoku described the restored laboratory as more than a healthcare facility, saying it is a place "where science meets compassion, where expertise meets equity, and where families can receive lifesaving care with dignity."

She also thanked President John Dramani Mahama for his support for the reconstruction, saying the project demonstrates Ghana's commitment to building a stronger and more resilient healthcare system.