President Mahama targets 10% emergency bed capacity in four major hospitals
President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to expand emergency bed capacity at four major hospitals across the country, as part of measures to address the persistent no-bed syndrome in Ghana’s healthcare system.
The expansion, scheduled to begin next year, will target Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital, with government seeking to increase emergency bed capacity to at least 10 percent of each facility’s functional bed capacity.
President Mahama made the announcement when he addressed the 68th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), where he outlined interventions to improve emergency healthcare delivery and ensure patients receive timely medical attention.
He explained that the expansion was necessary to address the gap between the overall bed capacity of major hospitals and the number of beds available to receive patients requiring emergency treatment.
Using Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as an example, the President said the facility had a functional bed capacity of 1,500 but only 65 beds in its Accident and Emergency Department.
“At Korle Bu, for example, achieving this target would mean more than doubling the current emergency bed capacity from 65 to at least 150 beds,” he stated.
He said the expansion would not be limited to providing additional beds but would include the necessary medical personnel, equipment, oxygen and essential supplies to make the additional capacity fully operational.
“Work will begin next year on the expansion of Accident and Emergency Centres at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital and 37 Military Hospital to achieve this 10 per cent target,” he announced.
President Mahama explained that emergency capacity involved more than the physical availability of beds, stressing that a bed could only become a place of care when trained professionals, functioning equipment, oxygen and essential supplies were available to provide the necessary treatment.
“Normally, people say there is no bed, but it is not just about the bed,” he said.
He added that government’s response to the challenge would address the entire emergency care pathway, from the first call for assistance through admission and treatment to referral and the safe discharge of patients.
The President said the expansion programme would complement other interventions, including the Integrated Bed Management and Referral Coordination System, which is being piloted to help hospitals and ambulance teams identify facilities with the capacity to receive emergency patients.
He said the system would improve referral arrangements and help ensure that patients were directed to facilities capable of providing the treatment they required.
President Mahama reiterated that health facilities must assess patients who arrive in critical condition and provide stabilisation within their capacity before arranging transfers where further treatment is required.
He said the measures formed part of government’s broader efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and reduce pressure on major referral hospitals.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
