President John Dramani Mahama has announced interim measures to address Ghana’s persistent “no-bed syndrome,” particularly in emergency cases, during a working visit to the La General Hospital in Accra.
Speaking during an inspection of the ongoing redevelopment of the facility, the President said government is taking immediate steps to ease pressure on existing hospitals while construction continues.
“In the interim, government is implementing measures to tackle the ‘no-bed syndrome,’ particularly in emergency cases,” he stated.
He noted that the situation has become a major concern, especially at night, when patients in critical condition often struggle to find available beds across major health facilities.
“Most of the time, at night, finding a place for them to be treated has been difficult,” he added.
As part of the response, President Mahama revealed that the emergency centre at Burma Camp established during the COVID-19 pandemic will be repurposed into a dedicated emergency facility.
“The emergency center at Burma Camp will be used to handle only emergency cases. If a patient is not accepted at any hospital, that center will come to their rescue,” he explained.
According to him, the facility will be staffed with emergency doctors and nurses who will stabilize patients before they are transferred to appropriate hospitals for further care.
“The emergency teams will stabilize patients, and once they are stable, they can be moved to regular hospitals,” he said.
President Mahama emphasized that the intervention is aimed at preventing avoidable deaths linked to delays in accessing emergency care.
“The Ministry is taking this action to prevent needless deaths due to the no-bed syndrome,” he stressed.
The President’s visit also focused on the progress of the La General Hospital redevelopment project, which is expected to restore critical healthcare services to residents in La and surrounding communities upon completion.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in Accra, noting that the growing population demands improved access to quality medical services.
“Accra is a fast-growing city, and we must ensure that our people have access to quality healthcare,” he said.
The La General Hospital project is expected to significantly expand bed capacity and reduce congestion at major referral facilities across the capital.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
