Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Mark Kurt Nawaane, has called for a clearer and more literal interpretation of the phrase “no bed” in discussions about challenges in Ghana’s healthcare system.
He said the term should not be stretched to imply wider systemic failures such as lack of medical staff, drugs or equipment, but rather understood in its direct meaning.
Speaking in relation to ongoing discussions on the “No Bed Syndrome” and findings from an investigative committee into the death of Charles Amissah on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday May 9, Dr. Nawaane argued that the phrase “no bed” should be taken at face value and not expanded to justify or explain other deficiencies within the health system.
“I don’t think they complained of no logistics, no consumables… Let us not give any interpretation to no bed,” he said.
He emphasised that the expression is straightforward and should not be used to cover broader systemic gaps.
“No bed is an English word [phrase]. Let’s not say no bed means no health professionals or no equipment or no drugs. It is an English word [phrase]. Let’s take it that way and let’s stop using that as an explanation,” he added.
Dr. Nawaane stressed the importance of focusing on accountability for inaction rather than misinterpreting explanations given by health facilities.
“We are not complaining of the action that they took but we are complaining about the inaction,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to avoid generalising cases and instead assess each situation individually, warning that overgeneralisation could distort the real issues affecting patient care.
“Let us always handle it case by case… when we do that we miss the point,” he noted.
Read also
Charles Amissah: My comments harsh, but medical profession needs reset – Nawaane
