Cancer Patients Face Uncertainty as Ghana’s Sole Cancer Treatment Machine Breaks Down

Cancer patients in Ghana are facing a grim reality as the country’s only cancer treatment machine at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has broken down, leaving many stranded and uncertain about their treatment.

According to a report by MyJoyOnline, the machine’s breakdown has led to frustration among patients who had scheduled treatment sessions at the nation’s premier health facility.

One patient, Sandra, shared her ordeal, expressing disappointment after being referred from the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) for radiation therapy.

“I started this journey about two years ago, treating breast cancer at UGMC. After a recurrence, I was referred to Korle Bu for chemotherapy and radiation therapy,” Sandra recounted in a telephone interview with JoyNews.

“My treatment was disrupted a month ago when the machine broke down. Despite rescheduling, I’ve only managed two sessions due to recurring breakdowns. Today, I returned again, only to find the machine out of service,” she added, highlighting the plight of many other patients waiting in line.

Professor Joel Yarney, Head of the Oncology Department at Korle Bu, emphasized the gravity of the situation, explaining that Ghana has only two such machines, the other located at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

“We used to handle a few cases daily, but now face up to 60 cases per day. The strain on a single machine has led to frequent breakdowns,” Prof. Yarney disclosed to JoyNews, underscoring the increasing pressure on the limited resources available for cancer treatment in the country.

The challenges extend beyond machine availability, with the high costs associated with maintenance and repair exacerbating the crisis. Prof. Yarney stressed the urgent need for additional resources to meet the growing demand for cancer treatment across Ghana.