The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has launched a Critical Care Fund to assist the needy to access essential healthcare.

The fund, a joint initiative of Fidelity Bank and the hospital, is to support the government’s budgetary allocation to public healthcare facilities, which have become woefully inadequate hence posing threats to the delivery of essential healthcare services, especially in case of emergencies.

The Fidelity bank has provided GH¢ 50, 000 as seed money to the fund and called on other corporate bodies and individuals to donate generously to it.

In a recorded message, the Chief Executive of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Gilbert Buckle, noted that the establishment of the fund was a significant milestone in the hospital’s effort to provide care, especially to patients or individuals who were unable or not in the position to cater for, nor afford the cost of critical care.

Critical care helps people with life-threatening injuries and illnesses. The beneficiaries would include those with complications from surgery, accidents, infections, and severe breathing problems.

It involves close, constant attention by a team of specially-trained health care providers. Critical care usually takes place in an intensive care unit (ICU) or trauma centre

With the provision of care estimated to cost on the average a GH¢ 1000 daily to give patients the best possible chance to live, the CEO said it was, therefore, very important not to delay emergency care to anybody because they couldn’t afford it.

“I wish to express my personal gratitude to the bank, the Managing Director and his team for the offer they have made and for delivering on that offer,” he said.

Mr Jim Baiden, the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank, said health care financing remained a debate all over the world and that in Ghana, most health care facilities were provided and funded by the government.

Over the years, however, budgetary allocation to government health facilities had been inadequate and posing serious threat to the delivery of essential healthcare services, especially in cases of emergency, he noted.

Mr Baiden said the need for public-private collaboration to support centres such as emergency and intensive care unit could not be over emphasised.

“Being adjudged the most socially responsible Bank in Ghana at this year’s Ghana Banking awards ceremony gives credence to our core value of serving our community with passion,” he stated.

“Good health plays an important role in the life of any individual so the bank is committed to helping Korle Bu to save lives of both children, adults, and especially the needy and vulnerable in critical times,” he stated.

According to him the purpose of the fund was also to sustain supply of consumables in the intensive care unit and ensure adequate maintenance of the equipment needed to deliver emergency health services.

“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the services of others”, while “our health is our wealth, not pieces of gold and silver, so let us all contribute to this just cause,” Mr Baiden explained.

Professor Ernest Aniteye, the Head of the Anaesthesia Department, who launched the fund on behalf of the Board Chairman of the Hospital, said his department requested the fund about five years ago, therefore, he was elated to see its establishment.

He noted that 90 per cent of patients who needed critical care could not afford it and expressed the hope that corporate Ghana and individuals would donate generously to this worthy cause.

The Director of Medical Affairs of Korle Bu, Dr Samuel Asiamah, pledged not only his skills to help critically ill patients but his personal contribution to the fund.