Serene Insurance LTD, a member of the First Sky Group, has renovated the 5th Floor of the Surgical Block of the Endocrine and Vascular Unit of the Department of Surgery at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

As part of the renovation, the insurance company also donated to the block 55 new beds for the use of patients. The 5th floor of the surgical block takes care of patients dealing with Endocrine and Vascular issues.

The Chief Executive Officer of Serene Insurance Limited, Mercy Boampong, explained that the renovation of the facility is a testament to what is possible when compassion meets action.

Her comments are a reflection of the readiness with which the insurance company accepted to renovate the Endocrine and Vascular Unit of the Surgical Block, following an appeal by a doctor at the facility.

Boampong said, “we are proud to officially hand over a completely renovated and refurbished 5th Floor of the Surgical Department of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. This project has involved a comprehensive transformation of the facility.”

The male and female wards have been given a complete face-lift. The three side wards, which previously had no dedicated washroom facilities, have now been provided with modern washrooms.”

She stressed that the management of Serene Insurance and First Sky Group “believe that patients undergoing treatment deserve not only excellent medical care but also surroundings that promote dignity, comfort, healing and hope. We equally believe that healthcare professionals deserve facilities that support and enhance the remarkable work they do every day.”

She also commended the doctor in charge, Dr. Maurice Dordunoo, who took the opportunity to enlighten them about the dire conditions of the 5th floor, during a visit in late 2025.

As part of the renovation, there was complete re-tiling of the entire floor, upgrading of washrooms, the floor also got a fresh coat of paint, furniture replacement at the reception, the refurbishment of the nurses’ station, the upgrading of the pantry and doctors’ offices,and the installation of curtains to ensure patient privacy,

Mercy Boampong assured hospital authorities that the handing over of the facility does not mark an end to their collaboration, but is merely a further block in the partnership between the mother company, First Sky, and Ghana’s premier hospital.

The Board Chairman of Serene Insurance, Charles Gidi, extolled the longstanding partnership that exists between Serene Insurance and Korle Bu.

He noted that the renovation of the 5th floor surgical block “is an extension of our corporate responsibility to pay back society. We are all prospective patients of Korle Bu, and it is only good that we invest in this facility to improve the lot of humanity.”

He charged the hospital management to take good care of the facility and ensure its maintenance.

Payment for kidney transplants at Korle Bu

The Executive Chairman of the First Sky Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse, stressed the importance of good healthcare services in the life of a society, noting that “without good healthcare, if citizens are not heath, the productivity of this country will go down, the GDP of this country will be nothing to write home about.”

It is in view of this that the First Sky Group sponsored free dialysis service for patients for a decade. Acknowledging that the government has taken over this responsibility of ensuring that patients have free dialysis services, the First Sky Group is now committing to ensuring that kidney transplants are free.

He urged all persons who come to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to approach the Head of the Renal Unit at the hospital and put in their application, and once medical and ethical due diligence are done, the total amount to be borne by the patient will be sent to the First Sky Group for payment.

He also announced that the First Sky Group has for the past two years been leading the charge for the passage of a law to allow for the harvesting of body parts, with steady progress being made with the establishment of a technical working committee, which has already commenced work on the bill.

He announced the readiness of the First Sky Group to fully sponsor the Bill and see to its passage.

The Head of the Surgical Department at the Korle Teaching Hospital, Dr Patrick Bankah, said the authorities at Korle Bu are committed to clinical care, training, advocacy and innovation.

He however stated that they had had cases where patients have declined care due to the poor environment they see when they visit the surgical block, stating that “you may be the best surgeon in the world, but if you are practicing in a place that does not exude confidence, nobody is going to take you seriously. We need to continuously improve the environment.”

He expressed delight that Serene Insurance has come on board to help in that undertaking, and concluded by saying, “Korle Bu belongs to us, it is a national asset. We pledge to keep this place as clean and tidy as can be.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, commended First Sky Group for their continued commitment to the cause of improving service delivery at Korle Bu.

He said, “what matters most is the impact this will have on patients and health care professionals who care for them.”

He commended the two institutions for their efforts and expressed the gratitude of the entire hospital.