A radiologist in private practice in Kumasi, with the help of local artisans, has designed a mobile X-ray van to boost healthcare delivery and diagnostics in the rural communities where health facilities lack the equipment.

The device, which is an ambulance configured to serve the purpose with fittings like air conditioner, generator and a portable X-ray machine, is also a big relief to sick people, especially accident victims, seeking medical attention at various private and public facilities without X-ray machines.

Dr. Victor Dedzoe, Radiologist and Managing Director of SOYUZ Medical Imaging and Diagnostic Centre at Danyame, Kumasi, who invented it, said additionally, the machine could transmit all images captured via the internet to him for interpretation. This information can also be sent back on internet to the medical expert or surgeon seeing the patients to facilitate prompt treatment.

“The ambulance can also provide rapid service since it can reach its destination at the shortest possible time,” he said.

Asked what motivated him to think up such an innovation, he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he had always been touched by the discomfort and pain very sick people, especially accidents victims with broken bones, go through when they had to be transported in taxis and other means of transport for X-rays in big hospitals.

Dr. Dedzoe said the effort was not solely based on profit making but the desire to provide affordable and accessible health care to the general public.

“I am charging not more than GH¢ 20.00 for one X-ray and this is the normal charge for public hospitals,” the radiologist said.

He spoke of his intention to do medical screening for rural communities on prostate and breast cancer and other medical conditions to help the needy access medical care early enough before their situation got fatal.