Sheba Partners with Korle Bu Hospital to Deliver Advanced Eye Care in Ghana

In a meaningful step toward advancing equitable healthcare, a team from Sheba Medical Center’s Global Ophthalmology division traveled to Ghana to collaborate with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. This joint mission focused on providing advanced eye care to patients facing serious, often late-stage conditions, but also on strengthening the region’s ophthalmic capacity through hands-on training and knowledge exchange.

By working alongside local teams, this initiative supports long-term improvements in diagnosis, treatment, and medical education – laying the groundwork for sustainable change in the delivery of eye care across the region. 

Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana’s largest tertiary referral center, was selected for this mission due to the significant challenges it faces in delivering timely, high-quality eye care. With limited access to diagnostic tools and specialized treatment options, many patients arrive with conditions at an advanced stage.

Addressing Complex Cases with Advanced Care

The Sheba team encountered some of the most advanced and neglected ocular conditions seen in clinical practice. 

Led by Prof. Ido Didi Fabian, an ocular oncologist, the delegation included neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Iris Ben-Basat Mizrahi and neuroradiologist Dr. Gahl Greenberg. Together, they performed intricate procedures on patients with tumors and vision-threatening pathologies that, in high-income countries, would typically be detected and treated far earlier.

Using advanced surgical techniques and diagnostic tools, the team provided care that would otherwise be inaccessible in the region. In parallel, they prioritized capacity-building—training more than 120 local ophthalmologists and delivering hands-on mentorship to medical residents.

“It was like seeing a textbook on the natural history of diseases. Things we don’t see in Israel or other high-income countries – the diseases are at a very late stage,” Professor Fabian recollected of his mission. 

Laying the Groundwork for Long-Term Impact

Beyond immediate clinical care, the mission set the stage for enduring collaboration between Sheba Medical Center and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Discussions are already in progress to establish joint research projects, physician exchange programs, and sustained support for diagnostic services.

One pressing need that emerged during the visit was in pathology diagnostics. The local team expressed concern over the reliability of biopsy analyses due to limited laboratory resources.

“Their ocular surgeon asked if they could send their biopsy tissue samples to Israel because she didn’t trust her pathologist,” said Professor Fabian. “They simply don’t have the right equipment… and that’s basic, that’s crucial, to be able to take a biopsy and have a diagnosis.”

To address this gap, Sheba is exploring solutions that would provide both short-term diagnostic support and long-term training in pathology and lab management. These efforts aim to empower Ghanaian physicians with the tools and expertise needed to deliver more timely and accurate care, strengthening local health systems and enhancing patient outcomes for years to come.

A Broader Vision for Global Ophthalmology

The mission to Ghana reflects the long-term vision and dedication of Prof. Ido Didi Fabian, a leading ocular oncologist whose work has helped reshape how eye care is approached in low-resource settings.

Prof. Fabian began building relationships with physicians in Ghana as early as 2017, long before institutional programs were formalized. What started as personal outreach has evolved into a focused, strategic effort to address gaps in access, diagnostics, and training.

In 2023, Prof. Fabian founded the International Society of Ocular Oncology, creating a global platform to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare and advanced eye cancers, particularly in underserved regions. That same year, Sheba Medical Center launched its Global Ophthalmology Initiative, with Prof. Fabian playing a central role in designing its mission and approach.

At the core of both efforts is a commitment to empowering local physicians, introducing scalable diagnostic infrastructure, and tailoring care models to fit regional needs. 

Prof. Fabian’s work demonstrates that leadership in global health demands consistency, cultural sensitivity, and a deep belief in equitable care. His vision continues to drive a broader movement: to ensure that geography and infrastructure do not dictate a person’s access to sight-saving treatment.