Korle Bu Doctors Warn of Imminent Crisis at Accident & Emergency Centre – Overcrowding Forces Care on Floors, Exposes Patients and Staff to Serious Risks
The Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA) has issued a stark warning about deteriorating conditions at the Accident and Emergency Centre of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, stating that severe overcrowding now threatens patient safety, healthcare worker well-being, and professional integrity.
In a strongly worded press statement released today, March 23, 2026, KODA described the situation as unsustainable and directly linked the crisis to recent administrative directives that have dramatically increased patient admissions without matching increases in physical space, staffing, or resources.
While the doctors reaffirmed their full commitment to the “No Bed” policy — ensuring no patient is turned away — they stressed that the policy is being implemented under dangerously improvised and unsafe conditions.
Key Concerns Raised by KODA
Patient Safety Risks — Delays in treatment, increased chance of medical errors, and compromised care delivery due to extreme congestion.
Medico-Legal Exposure — Treating patients on floors, in chairs, or in hallways places doctors at immense legal risk should adverse outcomes occur.
Occupational Hazards for Staff — Long-term physical strain (e.g., spinal injuries from repeated bending/squatting to treat floor patients) and severe mental exhaustion leading to burnout.
Misleading Ministerial Visit — The Association suggested that preparations ahead of a recent visit by the Minister of Health temporarily improved the visible environment, which did not reflect the daily reality at the unit.
KODA emphasized that simply adding beds — even as many as 1,000 extra beds — would not solve the crisis without a proportional increase in trained health personnel and supporting infrastructure.
“The provision of 1000 extra beds would not immediately translate into enough health personnel to take care of these patients,” the statement read.
Root Cause: Systemic Overload from Lower-Level Facilities
The doctors identified the core problem as lying outside Korle Bu: the inability of district, regional, and other lower-level hospitals to manage cases effectively, resulting in excessive referrals to the national tertiary facility.
“The bigger problem revolves around the capacity of other hospitals that are referring these patients… any number of beds provided in Korle Bu would be filled up in no time,” KODA explained.
Call for Comprehensive Action
KODA is demanding a system-wide response rather than isolated fixes at Korle Bu. Their key proposals include:
Improved coordination and referral protocols across all levels of the healthcare system
Significant investment in capacity-building (staff, equipment, infrastructure) at district and regional hospitals
Enhanced emergency response capabilities nationwide to reduce pressure on the national referral centre
Urgent measures to protect both patients and healthcare workers from the current unsafe working environment
The Association reiterated that the current status quo is not sustainable and poses grave risks to everyone involved in emergency care delivery.
KODA’s statement has reignited public and professional debate about the chronic underfunding, maldistribution of resources, and structural weaknesses plaguing Ghana’s healthcare system — particularly at its largest and most critical referral hospital.
The Ministry of Health and hospital administration are yet to issue a formal response to the latest KODA concerns.
