Sweden Ghana Medical Centre in Accra officially inaugurated

On Wednesday June 27 the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC) was officially opened. Ghanaian Vice President John Mahama Dramani, GMI’s CEO Thomas Pollare and Chairman Henry Broni-Amponsah made speeches to the media and a large number of invited guests.

SGMC is a modern out-patient clinic for effective cancer treatment situated just outside Accra, the capital of Ghana. The clinic is owned by Global Medical Investments Ltd (Swedfund and the medical technology company Elekta’s joint company for establishment of cancer clinics in developing countries) and some local investors.

SGMC is West Africa’s first specialist clinic for oncology (treatment of tumors). It offers radiotherapy, chemotherapy and diagnostic CT Scan or MRI. The mission is to make it possible for the general public in Ghana and the greater West African region to be treated by state-of-the-art cancer treatment techniques, rather than having to travel abroad for such treatment.

“We are very enthusiastic about the opening of this modern and professional clinic. The Vice President’s well informed speech reflects the commitment for this type of projects in Ghana, and it strengthens the image of the great needs we see in this region,” says Ulf Tossman, Senior Investment Manager at Swedfund.

The clinic which has been in operation since November 2011, works closely with the Department of Oncology of Skåne University Hospital. The oncology team is composed of a Swedish radiation oncologist (who is also the medical director), a Swedish radiation physicist and some staff from the Netherlands, as well as returning Ghanaians who have lived and worked abroad. A number of newly graduated nurses are also getting specialist training at the clinic.

Many cancer patients travel to Europe, USA or South Africa where relatives help them to receive specialist treatment. Cancer treatment is far more costly in these countries than at SGMC, why there is now hope that more patients among the general population in Ghana and surrounding countries will seek effective cancer care at this clinic.

Read more about Swedfund and Elekta’s joint project development company GMI’s activities and clinics in Africa and Latin America in our fact sheet.