“We don’t just need beds, we need systems” — Selormey on Ghana’s emergency care gaps

The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Richard Selormey, says Ghana’s emergency care crisis is the result of systemic failures spanning funding, coordination and infrastructure — not merely a lack of hospital beds.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (26 February), Selormey said the term “bed” in emergency medicine refers not only to physical space but the full package of personnel, equipment and specialist services required to treat a patient.

“A bed is not just the mattress,” he explained. “If a patient needs neurosurgery and the facility doesn’t have that service, then practically there is no bed.”

He cited chronic underfunding as a key barrier, noting that the National Ambulance Service has reported that only about 190 out of more than 300 ambulances are operational due to budget constraints and delayed allocations.

“There are existing policies and guidelines,” he said. “The problem is financing and coordination. Before an ambulance moves, it should know where a bed is available. Instead, they go from hospital to hospital.”

Selormey also pointed to infrastructure deficits, including limited diagnostic capacity.

“Only a small number of facilities have emergency ultrasound or CT scans. Many district hospitals lack even basic tools like ventilators,” he said.

While calls have been made for an emergency care law, Selormey argued legislation alone will not solve the crisis unless backed by dedicated funding.

“If we pass laws without real financing and equipping peripheral hospitals, we will still be talking about the same problems years from now,” he said.

He urged government to strengthen district and polyclinic facilities to reduce pressure on major referral hospitals.