The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) celebrated its fifth anniversary last Friday, September 1st, 2023 with an awards ceremony for its staff and partners who have supported the growth of the institution. The celebration, themed “Five years of working towards the provision of world-class patient care, training and research”, was attended by management, staff, board members and officials from the Israeli Embassy.
UGMC was established in 2017 with a vision to provide excellent healthcare services, medical training and research. Over the last five years, the institution has made significant strides in achieving this vision. According to the CEO, Dr. Darius Osei, UGMC has distinguished itself through high-quality patient care, responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic and partnerships with institutions like South Tees NHS Foundation Trust in the UK. Through these collaborations, UGMC has been able to perform complex surgeries like open-heart operations that were previously not possible in Ghana.
UGMC is also partnering Forte Medical and Nanox Vision in Israel to set up a radiology learning center to train African health professionals on innovative imaging technologies. Furthermore, in collaboration with MDS-Lancet-Cerba and other sponsors, UGMC plans to establish Ghana's first inpatient clinical trials unit. This will enable the testing of new drugs tailored to the Ghanaian genetic makeup and with fewer side effects. However, Dr. Osei noted that $5 million is needed to set up the clinical trials unit and appealed to businesses and individuals to support this initiative.
The Deputy Health Minister, Mahama Asei Seini, commended UGMC for reaffirming the importance of partnerships between governments and educational institutions. He emphasized that collaborative networks are essential to provide accessible healthcare that leaves no one behind, especially in a world of evolving health threats. The Israeli Ambassador, Shlomit Sufa, highlighted the long history of health sector cooperation between Ghana and Israel through knowledge exchange, training and best practices sharing. She believes such innovation-driven partnerships can contribute to a healthier future for both nations.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, congratulated UGMC on its first five years and the award ceremony to recognize its staff's efforts. She urged stakeholders to proceed with integrity and leverage partnerships to make a profound impact through improved patient care, training and research that advances medical knowledge.
In its first five years, UGMC has made significant strides in achieving its mission of providing world-class healthcare, training and research. Through partnerships, the institution has been able to offer complex surgeries, establish learning centers, and plans to set up Ghana's first inpatient clinical trials unit. However, financial support is still needed to realize some of these initiatives. If UGMC continues to build on its current foundation with integrity and collaboration, it has the potential to become a center of medical excellence and a destination for medical tourism on the continent.
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