Ghana urged to adopt rapid cancer diagnostic technology to cut delays in treatments

Founder and President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has urged the Government to explore adopting rapid cancer diagnostic technology capable of producing breast biopsy images within five minutes to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. She said the Core View instrument could help address shortages of pathologists and limited diagnostic facilities in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries. Dr Wiafe Addai made the call during a breast and prostate cancer awareness and screening programme organised by the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) in Accra. She explained that although biopsy remained the gold standard for confirming cancer, delays in analysing tissue samples often prolonged the period between detecting a suspicious breast lump and obtaining a definitive diagnosis.

The CoreView project, supported by the United States Government through an NCI Alliance initiative involving Peace and Love Hospital in Ghana, the University of California, Davis, and the University of Washington in Seattle, is evaluating the technology’s potential to accelerate diagnosis. According to her, the equipment produces images of biopsy samples that pathologists could examine remotely and communicate findings electronically, adding that this could reduce waiting times and the need for patients in remote communities to travel long distances for specialised diagnostic services. She urged the Government to engage the collaborating institutions and explore acquiring the equipment for public hospitals. Dr Wiafe Addai said doctors and physician assistants in district hospitals and clinics could be trained to collect biopsy samples and operate the equipment, potentially expanding access to diagnostic services in underserved areas.…