The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has issued a wake-up call to the government, demanding that the persistent “No-bed Syndrome” be declared a national public health emergency.
In a press statement, the Association warned that the crisis characterized by patients being turned away from hospitals due to a lack of space has moved beyond a logistical hiccup and is now a systemic failure resulting in “preventable loss of life.”
The crisis is most visible at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where the pressure has reached a boiling point.
The facility currently handles approximately 250 daily admissions and over 1,500 outpatient visits, forcing medical staff to manage critically ill patients in unsafe, makeshift conditions.
The GRNMA highlights a staggering gap between reality and international standards.
“Nurses and midwives are operating under extreme pressure, moral distress, and unsafe working conditions, often compelled to improvise care in overcrowded environments,” the statement read.
The GRNMA identified several “key drivers” that have created this perfect storm:
A severe mismatch between the growing population and available beds.
Overcrowding at major tertiary facilities because primary clinics and district hospitals cannot handle basic referrals.
A persistent lack of skilled personnel in emergency and critical care.
Inefficient communication between ambulance services and receiving hospitals.
Rapid urban growth in cities like Accra and Kumasi that has outpaced healthcare expansion.
The Association is not just pointing out flaws; they are demanding immediate structural reforms.
Their recommendations to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service include:
Implementing a digital system to monitor bed availability across the country in real-time.
Enforcing protocols to ensure no patient is turned away without being stabilized, regardless of bed space.
Investing urgently in emergency units, particularly in high-demand urban areas.
Launching independent investigations into recent fatal incidents where care was delayed or denied.
The GRNMA insists that the dignity of the Ghanaian patient is at stake.
As the “No-bed Syndrome” continues to claim lives, the message to policymakers is clear: The time to act decisively is now.
By 1960news.com
