The Accident and Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is facing increasing pressure as it attends to hundreds of emergency cases daily, with a shortage of wheelchairs posing a major challenge to patient movement within the facility.
Hospital officials say some critically ill patients require wheelchairs to be moved before receiving treatment, but the limited supply often delays the timely transfer of patients to consulting rooms and treatment areas.
The concern was raised by Mercy Telly, Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Manager of the Family Medicine Directorate, during a donation from Premier Health Insurance aimed at easing some of the challenges facing the facility.
“The number of patients we receive here every day is overwhelming. In some cases, we have to prioritise who gets a wheelchair because we simply do not have enough. This sometimes affects how quickly patients can be moved for assessment and treatment,” she said.
Ms Telly, who is also the Acting Deputy Director of Nursing Services, noted that while staff remain committed to delivering quality care, logistical challenges such as the wheelchair shortage add to the pressure on health workers in the unit.
To mark its 15th anniversary, Premier Health Insurance donated 20 wheelchairs to the hospital to improve patient care and reduce pressure on the emergency unit.
She expressed appreciation to Premier Health Insurance for the intervention, describing it as timely and a much-needed boost to patient care at the hospital.
Ms Telly further urged other health insurance providers to emulate Premier Health Insurance and support the hospital, stressing that collective efforts are needed to bridge resource gaps in the facility.
Chief Executive Officer of Premier Health Insurance, Percy Asare Ansah, said the company responded to the hospital’s appeal after learning about the growing demand for wheelchairs due to the high volume of emergency cases handled daily.
He noted that the donation forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts to support health facilities that serve large numbers of Ghanaians.
“As a health insurance provider, we understand the pressure on public health facilities. When we heard about the challenges with mobility equipment, we felt it was necessary to step in and provide support,” Mr Ansah said.
He added that Premier Health Insurance remains committed to partnering with hospitals and clinics across the country to improve patient care and reduce the burden on healthcare workers.
“This is just the beginning. We will continue to identify areas where we can make a meaningful impact in the health sector. As part of our 15th anniversary celebrations, we are donating about 150 wheelchairs to public health facilities across the region,” he stated.
Mr Ansah also appealed to corporate institutions, philanthropists and other stakeholders to support the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, noting that collective action is critical to improving healthcare delivery.
“The hospital serves thousands of patients, and it will take a collective effort to address some of the challenges we are facing,” he said.
KATH remains the main referral hospital for the Ashanti Region and beyond, with its Accident and Emergency Unit serving as a key point of care for accident victims and emergency cases from across the middle and northern parts of the country.
Health experts have called for increased support from government, corporate institutions and individuals to help address resource gaps in major referral hospitals.
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