Yaw Osafo Marfo, a senior adviser to the president, is pleading with lawmakers to pass legislation exempting cancer diagnostic and treatment equipment from import duties and other levies.
The national center for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine received one million cedis duty for importing machinery for radioactive source change, which prompted the presidential advisor’s call.
In order to provide safe, effective, and all-encompassing treatment facilities to improve the quality of life, extend survival, and most importantly, improve the condition of cancer patients across the nation and in the sub-region, the national center for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine was founded in 1998.
Ghana lacked the components of comprehensive cancer care, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and psychological support, prior to the founding of the center.
the center, which is still entirely staffed by Ghanaians in challenging circumstances 25 years later.
The difficulty is that machinery import duties exist.
Yaw Osafo Marfo, a senior presidential counselor, lamented the predicament and asked for legislation to resolve it.
At the 25th anniversary dinner of the center, Yaw Osafo Marfo, speaking on behalf of President Akufo Addo, urged the management of the Korle Bu teaching hospital to help the center grow as a source of medical tourism in the nation.
“25 Years of Excellence in Comprehensive Cancer Treatment” served as the celebration’s subject.
By Peter Quao Adattor
