A former Chief Executive of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, has described Ghana’s persistent “no-bed syndrome” as the result of a “choke system” within the healthcare delivery chain, rather than a simple shortage of beds.
According to him, inefficiencies at various points in the patient care process are clogging the system, preventing smooth movement of patients and creating pressure at emergency units.
Speaking at the Conversations Under the Baobab Tree event organised by the PRESEC Old Boys Association on Thursday, April 30, 2026, Dr Ampomah said the problem lies in how patients flow through the system.
“It’s not about having a big tank, but also about the choke pipe. When patients flow into the hospital system, they must also flow out. If there is any inefficiency that clogs the chain of movement, then that is going to cause a backup, and it shows up at the front door as a no-bed syndrome.”
He explained that the “choke system” is driven by multiple structural challenges, including patients who remain in hospital beds after discharge due to unpaid bills, as well as inefficiencies in patient management.
“Patients who have been discharged can’t pay their bills, patients occupying beds that should be used for emergencies… these are some of the systemic issues that create the problem,” he said.
Dr Ampomah also pointed to gaps in emergency triage processes, noting that delays in prioritising critical cases further compound congestion in hospitals.
“Most emergency rooms should have a way of sorting patients very quickly so that those who need urgent care can be attended to,” he added.
He stressed that understanding how emergency units operate is key to addressing the issue, clarifying that treatment is based on urgency rather than order of arrival.
“The emergency room is not a place for first come, first served. It is a place where the one with the most urgent need has to be seen first.”
The event, held under the theme “The No-Bed Syndrome in Ghana: Improving Emergency Healthcare,” highlighted the need for system-wide reforms to unclog patient flow and improve efficiency across healthcare facilities.
