Former Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe Boye, has explained that the so-called “no bed syndrome” in Ghana’s healthcare system is often misunderstood, stressing that it is more of a symptom of deeper systemic challenges rather than a single cause.
According to him, the issue does not always mean hospitals lack physical beds, but instead reflects a combination of factors, including missing medical specialties, limited equipment, and broader infrastructure gaps within the health system.
He explained on Channel One TV’s What the Papers Are Saying on Thursday, May 7, that in some cases, patients may be taken to a facility such as Mamprobi Hospital, where basic treatment can be provided for injuries like fractures.
However, if complications such as internal bleeding or severe swelling are detected and the hospital lacks the capacity for surgical intervention, patients are referred to a higher-level facility such as Ridge Hospital.
He emphasised that such referrals should not be interpreted as negligence or lack of doctors, but rather a reflection of the need for specialised care that may not be available at every facility.
“In other cases, the ‘no bed’ situation is not about physical space but about the absence of the required specialty or equipment,” he noted. He added that in some instances, the challenge is part of a broader national infrastructure issue affecting healthcare delivery.
His comments come amid renewed national discussions on emergency healthcare capacity and patient outcomes, following findings from a committee that investigated the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah.
The committee concluded that his death resulted from multiple failures across the healthcare system, including delays in emergency response, lack of proper stabilization, and weak coordination between major hospitals such as the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
It also highlighted gaps in ambulance services, inadequate equipment, and insufficient training in emergency care protocols, describing ambulance personnel largely as transport providers rather than fully equipped emergency responders.
The report has since triggered calls for reforms to strengthen emergency care systems, improve hospital coordination, and address long-standing capacity challenges within Ghana’s health sector.
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