President John Dramani Mahama has directed all health facilities across the country to ensure that no patient is turned away, even when hospitals are operating at full capacity.
The directive follows the reported death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah, who was allegedly denied treatment at three major hospitals in Accra.
Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Friday, President Mahama stressed that emergency care must be provided regardless of bed availability.
“You do not need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient. No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to,” he stated.
The President urged the Ministry of Health to immediately issue clear operational guidelines to eliminate what has become known as the “no bed” syndrome, and to ensure that patients receive timely medical attention under all circumstances.
As part of measures to improve capacity, President Mahama announced that Phase Two of the Ridge Hospital project would commence, aimed at increasing bed space and enhancing service delivery at the major referral facility.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the health sector to guarantee accessible and quality healthcare for all citizens.
