President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Health to issue new guidelines to eliminate what he described as the unacceptable “no bed syndrome” in Ghana’s healthcare system.
According to him, patients in emergency situations must never be turned away, regardless of infrastructure challenges.
Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, he said, “The Ministry of Health is expected to issue guidelines to eliminate the unacceptable ‘no bed syndrome’.”
The issue has come under intense scrutiny following the tragic death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah. On February 6, Amissah was involved in a hit-and-run accident at the Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra while riding a motorcycle.
For over nearly three hours, he was reportedly denied emergency care by the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, all citing a lack of beds. He later passed away from cardiac arrest, sparking nationwide outrage.
President Mahama stressed that lack of beds should not be a justification for refusing care.
“Patients facing medical emergencies must be received and given help if even under makeshift conditions. You don’t need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient. No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to.”
To address capacity constraints, he outlined a series of infrastructure projects aimed at expanding capacity across the country.
“In the meantime, government will expand capacity by implementing the Ridge Hospital Phase 2 project to increase the number of beds at the Greater Accra Regional hospital.”
“We’ll also continue and complete the Police hospital project, and also continue and complete the La General hospital. In Ashanti Region we’ll complete the Sewua Regional hospital, we’ll complete the Afari Military hospital and we’ll complete the Okomfo Anokye teaching hospital maternity and children’s block.”
The President assured that his administration remains committed to building a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant health system that guarantees access to emergency care for all Ghanaians.
