Doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have accused hospital management of presenting a misleading picture of conditions at the Accident and Emergency Centre during a recent visit by the Ministry of Health Ghana.
In a statement, the Korle-Bu Doctors Association said the environment observed by the Health Minister did not reflect the daily realities at the facility. According to the group, the emergency ward was deliberately reorganised ahead of the visit, with new bedsheets provided and general arrangements made to create a near-perfect setting.
The doctors noted that such preparations are common ahead of official visits but warned that they risk masking the severity of challenges facing the hospital. They stressed that acknowledging the true situation is essential to finding lasting solutions.
The concerns follow a working visit by the Health Minister on Saturday, March 21, 2026, which was prompted by a viral video showing patients being treated on chairs and on the floor. However, the Minister reportedly encountered what appeared to be normal conditions during the visit, leading to suggestions that the viral footage may have been inaccurate.
KODA, however, insists that overcrowding at the emergency unit remains critical. The Association explained that the widely discussed “no bed syndrome” goes beyond the availability of beds, pointing instead to deeper systemic issues, including inadequate staffing and weak referral systems from other health facilities.
“Even if additional beds are provided, they will quickly be occupied because referring hospitals lack the capacity to manage many of the cases they send to Korle-Bu,” the statement noted.
The Association further warned that recent administrative directives have led to a surge in patient admissions, stretching both physical infrastructure and human resources beyond capacity.
Doctors say the situation is affecting patient safety, increasing the risk of infections, delays in treatment, and potential medical errors. They also raised concerns about legal exposure, noting that providing care in hallways, on chairs, or on the floor puts healthcare professionals at risk of litigation in the event of complications.
Additionally, the group highlighted growing physical and mental strain on staff, warning of burnout and long-term health risks due to the demanding conditions.
Despite these challenges, KODA reaffirmed its commitment to the “no bed” policy, which ensures that no patient is turned away. However, it cautioned that the current situation is unsustainable and requires urgent, system-wide intervention.
