Twenty-five per cent of accident related deaths at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in the capital Accra are a result of complications of the chest, Professor Frimpong Boateng, Head of the National Cardio-Thoracic Centre, said on Saturday.
He said an operation on the chest costs about 25,000 dollars to perform while it takes about 1.5 million cedis to treat post operation heart patients under intensive care.
Speaking at the 13th annual Awards and Dinner Dance of the National Service Scheme in Accra on Saturday, Prof. Boateng said the Centre has not received any government subvention since its establishment about three years ago.
This, inhibits its effective operation, he said adding that without a functional health insurance scheme, the Centre depends on donations from individuals and companies.
He said if adequate funds are not provided to maintain the centre, Ghanaians with chest and heart ailments would have to travel abroad for treatment, at a higher cost.
According to Prof. Boateng, the Centre is the only functional one in West Africa and receives patients from various African countries. He stressed the need for financial support, since only 243 million cedis annually is collected from a target of 2.4 billion if all workers contribute 200 cedis a month to the Heart Fund.
The amount collected show that less than 50 per cent of salaried workers contribute. Staff of the National Service Secretariat presented a cheque for two million cedis to the Foundation at the ceremony 15 men and three women, who completed National Service last year were honoured.
They were given a designer clock and a certificate each for distinguishing themselves in Teaching and community-work. Miss Ruby Sowah and Mr Eric Kwesi Essel, both graduates of the University of Cape Coast, were adjudged best service persons n Teaching and Community work receptively.
They two were also given a 14-inch Sanyo colour television set and a citation each.
