Doctors at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have raised concerns over severe overcrowding at the facility’s Accident and Emergency Centre, warning that the situation is endangering both patients and healthcare workers.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA) said recent administrative directives had resulted in a surge in patient admissions far beyond the hospital’s physical and human resource capacity.
The Association reaffirmed its commitment to the “No Bed” policy, which ensures that no patient is turned away, but noted that the resulting congestion had forced healthcare delivery under unsafe and improvised conditions.
“This status quo is unsustainable and poses significant risks to both patient recovery and professional integrity,” the statement said.
KODA outlined key challenges arising from the situation, including delays in treatment, heightened risk of medical errors, and potential medico-legal implications due to the practice of attending to patients on floors, chairs, and in corridors.
It also highlighted the toll on healthcare workers, citing burnout, exhaustion, and occupational hazards such as long-term spinal injuries from working in unsafe conditions.
Commenting on a recent visit by the Minister of Health, the Association said the conditions observed during the visit did not reflect the daily realities at the emergency unit.
“The environment on the day of the minister’s visit was not a reflection of what actually happens daily at the emergency,” the statement noted.
KODA cautioned that expanding bed capacity alone would not resolve the crisis, stressing the need for a corresponding increase in staffing and logistics, while also addressing systemic challenges at lower-level health facilities that contribute to excessive referrals to the teaching hospital.
