President John Mahama today announced a nationwide effort to expand the Accident and Emergency (A&E) facilities at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital, with construction slated to begin next year.
He said the government is working to raise emergency bed capacity to at least 10 percent of each hospital’s functional bed capacity. For example, Korle Bu has 1,500 functional beds but only 65 A&E beds; meeting the target would mean increasing that number to at least 150.
The expansion will include not only additional beds but also the necessary staff, equipment, oxygen and supplies to make the new capacity fully operational.
Mahama also announced the pilot of an Integrated Bed Management and Referral Coordination System (IBMRC) through the Ministry of Health. The digital platform will connect Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye, Tamale, Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, 37 Military Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Centre and the National Ambulance Service, enabling hospitals and ambulance teams to identify available capacity and coordinate patient transfers.
He added that the Ghana Armed Forces Critical Care and Emergency Hospital will open to the public immediately, with closer cooperation between military and civilian services to maximise available resources.
Mahama warned that health facilities must not turn away patients in critical condition simply because of a lack of beds, and that families should receive clear guidance throughout the referral process.
Next steps include finalising the expansion plans, securing funding, and launching the IBMRC platform later this year.
