President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that plans are underway to expand emergency bed capacity across major teaching and referral hospitals in the country to at least 10 per cent of their functional bed capacity.
The strategic initiative forms part of aggressive steps by the government to tackle the lingering ‘No Bed Syndrome’ plaguing Ghana’s healthcare sector.
Speaking at the 68th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), which focused on reimagining emergency response systems in the country, the President stated that the expansion exercise will commence next year.
The initial phase will target the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, and the 37 Military Hospital. He assured that the extra bed space would be fully equipped with trained medical personnel, oxygen units, and essential supplies to ensure immediate functionality.
President Mahama noted that addressing the crisis requires more than just making physical beds available, pointing to the vital role of skilled manpower and functioning medical tools.
He revealed that operations are set to begin at the Ghana Armed Forces Critical Care and Emergency Hospital, an initiative designed to enhance emergency management capacity while fostering stronger ties between military and civilian health delivery networks.
To streamline patient care during emergencies, the government is also piloting an Integrated Bed Management and Referral Coordination System.
This system will allow hospital management and ambulance crews to track open beds across facilities real-time, preventing avoidable delays and ensuring the safe transfer of patients.
Touching on workforce distribution, President Mahama announced that 100 doctors have accepted postings to underserved areas, adding that regular annual recruitment of health workers will be maintained alongside new financial and non-financial incentives to retain staff in deprived communities.
He also confirmed that 100 new ambulances will be procured while another 100 broken-down vehicles will undergo repairs to boost response times.
The President urged members of the GMA to offer actionable solutions on emergency infrastructure and healthcare reforms, reiterating that patients facing life-threatening situations must not be left to flounder within a broken referral system.
The conference brought together prominent key players, including Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, traditional rulers, heads of health institutions, World Health Organisation representatives, and the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana