Roche, a global champion in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, has launched a Cancer Treatment Centre at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH).

The Centre is expected to provide oncology services in the hospital, the Central Region and beyond.

Dr Philip Anderson, Country Manager of Roche Ghana, Speaking at the launch of the Oncology Services, was confident their partnership with the government would expand access to oncology services for the Ghanaian people, beginning with the opening of a new cancer treatment centre at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

He indicated through the partnership agreement; Roche will work with the Health Ministry to develop infrastructure to deliver cancer care at key hospitals across the country by launching oncology services in three new cancer treatment centres to bridge geographic access barriers to quality cancer care.

In addition to the Oncology service Centre, Roche also donated a cold room for the Cape Coast Teaching to aid the proper storage of life-saving medication and blood serum samples.

Dr Anderson pledged the organisation’s preparedness to work with the Ministry to deliver cancer care at key hospitals across the country to bridge geographic access barriers to quality cancer care and support capacity development and training of health care providers to offer expertise services.

He stressed, “Access to quality health care for cancer patients was a major concern to Roche, hence our partnership with the Government to improve provision for better care delivery to cancer patients. This is just the beginning of a long journey, and we would walk the miles with you to keep providing quality health care and services to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people.”

He intimated Roche was committed to creating solutions tailored to each country's specific local needs and operational areas.

“We recognize the importance of working with stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to correct unacceptable inequalities in care by strengthening health infrastructure, increasing sustainable funding, and enabling access to innovative diagnostics and treatments,” he stated.

Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr Eric Kofi Ngyedu, intimated the oncology services in the Region would reduce the burden on the Komfo Anokye and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals, which are the only facilities providing cancer care in the Country.

Dr Eric Kofi Ngyedu elaborated the hospital's vision was to partner with credible stakeholders to invest and help provide quality cancer services to minimise the harrowing challenges cancer patients go through to access care.

“The hospital this found it needful to collaborate with Roche to lessen the increased risk of long travels and the physical, emotional and financial plight patients go through.

"I do not doubt that this collaboration is of immense relevance in our quest for radical improvements in training, equipment supplies, and installation as well as bringing cancer medicines to the doorsteps of our patients, thus helping to improve interventions for diagnosis, treatment, and service outcomes”.

Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Dr Joel Yarney, expressed his delight that the partnership between Roche and the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital would make access to cancer care in the health sector a bit easier.

Paramount Chief of Assin Owirenkyi Traditional Area and associate of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, indicated the partnership that birthed the Oncology Centre at the CCTH and the provision of the cold room is just a precursor of the hospital’s vision to establish a comprehensive oncology centre.

He was hopeful that such a vision would be actualised for the present and the succeeding generations to benefit.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company that specialises in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system.