The Ghana Association of Radiologists (GAR) has called on the government and stakeholders in the health sector to invest in modern diagnostic infrastructure across the country to i
The report indicates that the Ghana Association of Radiologists (GAR) has called on the government and stakeholders in the health sector to invest in modern diagnostic infrastructure across the country to improve healthcare delivery and support early detection of diseases.
It further notes that access to advanced imaging equipment such as CT scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines remained limited in many health facilities, affecting the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, it said.
“We are urging the government and all stakeholders that for this multidisciplinary approach to be successful, we need to retool our facilities across the length and breadth of the country with imaging modalities like CT scan, MRI, etc.,” Dr Francis Ofei, President of GAR, said.
Speaking at the opening of the Association’s 14th Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Accra on Thursday, he said, “Remember, it is not all institutions that have the high-end imaging modalities. So, you try to begin low, and then you go up.”
The conference, held on the theme “From Kidneys to Urethra: Imaging the Genitourinary System in the Era of Multidisciplinary Care,” brought together radiologists, nephrologists, urologists, clinicians and other healthcare professionals to discuss advances in medical imaging and collaborative patient care.
It also aimed to promote collaboration among healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the genitourinary system, which included the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Dr Ofei explained that radiologists use imaging technologies such as ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI scans to help doctors identify diseases and guide treatment.
However, he noted that healthcare delivery in the country was often carried out in silos, where specialists worked independently without adequate collaboration.
“We have realised that most of the time, this approach is in silos. The clinician is doing their own thing; the radiologist is also doing their own thing. I think that it is time for us to now resort to what we call a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to healthcare,” he said.
Under a multidisciplinary system, Dr Ofei stated radiologists, clinicians, nephrologists, and urologists would work together to improve patient care and treatment outcomes.
The GAR president also expressed concern over the rising burden of chronic kidney disease in Ghana, describing the situation as alarming.
He stated studies had shown that chronic kidney disease affected between 14 and 16 per cent of adults in Ghana, with higher prevalence in communities exposed to risk factors such as illegal mining activities.
Dr Ofei linked part of the increase in cases to illegal artisanal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which he stated continued to pollute major rivers and water bodies with harmful chemicals.
He explained that heavy metals from mining activities entered the human body through contaminated water and placed excessive pressure on the kidneys, which were responsible for filtering waste from the body.
