Health & Medical Sciences
Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory Therapy trains you to manage and care for patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary problems -- from emergency rooms to intensive care units. It's a genuinely new profession in Ghana, first established at University of Ghana in 2016, making trained respiratory therapists a rare and increasingly essential part of the healthcare system.
Program objectives
- 01Understand respiratory and cardiopulmonary physiology and disease processes.
- 02Learn airway management and life-support techniques.
- 03Build hands-on clinical skills through supervised hospital placements.
- 04Get grounding in emergency and critical care respiratory support.
Why choose this program
A genuinely pioneering profession in Ghana
Before this program began, Ghana had only one qualified respiratory therapist, trained abroad -- meaning graduates enter a field with very little competition and real, urgent need.
Directly, immediately life-saving work
Respiratory therapists manage patients in emergency rooms, trauma units, and intensive care, playing a critical role in keeping people alive.
Strong international mobility
A meaningful share of graduates have gone on to work abroad, particularly in the United States, reflecting the program's genuine international-standard training.
Skills you'll build
- Airway management and life-support techniques
- Respiratory and cardiopulmonary assessment
- Mechanical ventilation management
- Emergency and critical care respiratory support
- Composure under high-pressure, life-critical situations
- Quick, clear clinical decision-making
- Teamwork in emergency and ICU settings
- Empathy with critically ill patients
Tools & software
- Mechanical ventilators and respiratory support equipment
- Patient monitoring systems
Challenges to expect
Academic
- A demanding four-year program combining theoretical coursework with clinical experience and skills development.
Technical
- Clinical training requires access to hospital facilities, and Ghana's programme has had to work through limited clinical placement capacity.
Personal
- Working in emergency rooms and ICUs regularly means dealing with critically ill patients and high-pressure situations.
Tips from the field
- Take your clinical rotations seriously and seek out every available hands-on experience -- this is still a young profession in Ghana, and real patient exposure builds the confidence and skill employers need.
- Consider the strong international career potential seriously; a meaningful share of graduates have pursued opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States.
- Build genuine composure for high-pressure situations, since respiratory therapists regularly work in emergency and intensive care settings.
Career paths
- Respiratory therapist (hospital/ICU)
- Emergency and critical care respiratory specialist
- Military/armed forces respiratory therapist
- Respiratory therapy educator (with further study)
- International respiratory care practitioner
Where you can study this
| Name | Latest cutoff | Tuition (annual) |
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FAQs
Is this a new profession in Ghana?+
Yes, genuinely so -- the University of Ghana established the first Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program in Africa in 2016, and before that, Ghana had only one qualified respiratory therapist, trained abroad.
Is this the same as being a Nurse?+
No. Respiratory Therapists specialize specifically in airway management and cardiopulmonary care, a distinct clinical specialty from general nursing.
Can I work abroad after training in Ghana?+
Yes, a meaningful share of graduates from Ghana's program have gone on to work internationally, particularly in the United States, reflecting the program's strong training standards.
Where can I study this in Ghana?+
University of Ghana's School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences offers Ghana's first and currently primary Respiratory Therapy program.
Will I work mainly in hospitals?+
Yes, respiratory therapists in Ghana primarily work in hospitals including Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Centre, and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, mainly in emergency rooms, trauma units, and intensive care.
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