The Ghanaian Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons has been inaugurated, with its director, Dr. Kow Entsua‑Mensah, emphasizing the need for collaboration and resource sharing among existing cardiothoracic centres in the country. Dr. Entsua‑Mensah, who also serves as Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, stressed that the scarcity of cardiothoracic surgeons in Ghana necessitates urgent action to increase the number of specialists across the regions. Currently, there are only 14 cardiothoracic surgeons in the country, with six others undergoing training.
The newly formed society aims to engage in training, influence policy formulation at the national level, and pursue other objectives that will strengthen the specialty. Its initial membership of 14 qualified surgeons will work toward increasing the number of trainees and deploying them across the regions to support the existing workforce. Dr. Entsua‑Mensah called for capacity building and the expansion of existing facilities to enhance healthcare delivery, noting that only five hospitals in Ghana currently provide cardiovascular and thoracic surgery services.
He suggested that centres at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, 37 Military Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and Tamale Teaching Hospital should be expanded to ease the growing demand on the National Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu. He encouraged better‑resourced centres in Accra to support less developed ones, while the government works toward establishing regional cardiovascular and thoracic centres.
Professor Kwabena Frimpong‑Boateng, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, urged young professionals to embrace technology and modern procedures to deliver quality care. He called for increased investment in facilities and equipment, emphasizing the need for professionals to deepen their expertise and maintain strong work ethics.
The inaugural meeting of the Ghanaian Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons was held under the theme “Capacity Building in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Through Partnership,” highlighting the importance of collaboration and resource sharing in improving cardiothoracic surgery services in Ghana. The establishment of the society is a significant step toward addressing the shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons. With its focus on training, policy formulation, and partnership, the society is poised to play a crucial role in enhancing healthcare delivery, ensuring patients have access to quality care and reducing the need to travel long distances for treatment.
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