The Ministry of Health has mapped more than 5,000 hospital beds across Ghana onto a national monitoring system aimed at tackling the persistent ‘no bed syndrome’ and reducing delays in emergency care.
The system, which has captured more than 650 hospitals, allows emergency teams to check bed availability in real time and identify suitable facilities for patients before ambulances are dispatched.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh disclosed this during an inspection of the National Command Centre for Bed and Referral Management at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
He said the initiative would help address situations where patients are turned away from hospitals despite beds being available at other facilities.
The system is also designed to track emergency patients who spend more than 24 hours on a hospital bed, enabling health authorities to investigate the causes of prolonged stays and improve bed utilisation.
The pilot programme currently covers teaching hospitals, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
It also tracks ambulance movements and matches patients to health facilities based on bed availability, medical needs and distance.
Project lead for Bed Management, Dr Justine Osei, said the system was expected to improve coordination among hospitals and strengthen emergency referrals.
The pilot is currently operating with 10 ambulances in Greater Accra and another 10 in the Ashanti Region.
The Ministry plans to extend the system to all regional hospitals before rolling it out to district-level facilities.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to expand emergency care capacity at selected teaching and regional hospitals, including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
