Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh inspected the National Command Centre for Bed and Referral Management at Greater Accra Regional Hospital today, underscoring the system’s potential to curb Ghana’s chronic ‘no bed syndrome’. The platform delivers real‑time bed availability across participating hospitals, enabling emergency teams to dispatch ambulances to facilities with open beds.
During the visit, Akandoh noted the system would prevent patients from being turned away when other hospitals have available capacity. He added that the dashboard will allow health authorities to track patients who remain in beds for over 24 hours, probing the causes of prolonged stays.
Dr Justine Osei, the project lead, revealed that more than 650 hospitals and 5,000 beds are now mapped in the system. The pilot covers teaching hospitals, Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre, with 20 ambulances—10 in Greater Accra and 10 in Ashanti—already integrated.
Akandoh said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen emergency care at key teaching and regional hospitals, including Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye, Greater Accra, 37 Military and Tamale Teaching Hospitals. The Ministry plans to roll the system out to all regional hospitals before extending it nationwide to district facilities.
Health officials expect the system to streamline referrals, cut emergency delays and optimise bed usage across the country’s health sector.
