The Problem Is Not Beds: Health Ministry Reveals Cause of “No-Bed Syndrome”
ACCRA, Ghana — The Ministry of Health (MoH) has dismissed claims of a nationwide shortage of hospital beds, stating that available data indicates hospitals across the country are operating below full capacity, with an average bed occupancy rate of about 60 percent.
According to the Ministry, the persistent "no-bed syndrome" experienced by some patients is largely due to poor coordination and the absence of a real-time hospital bed management system rather than an actual lack of available beds.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, made the remarks while appearing before Parliament's Economy and Development Committee, where she outlined the government's assessment of hospital capacity and the need for improved coordination.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah explained that while many hospitals still have vacant beds, emergency responders and healthcare providers often lack immediate access to information on where those beds are available.
She noted that an effective, real-time bed management system would allow ambulances and emergency personnel to transport patients directly to facilities with available space, reducing delays in treatment.
"If we have more beds, why are we having no-bed syndrome? I believe the occupancy rate is 60%. So with 100 beds in a hospital, 60 of them are occupied; 40 are open. So now why does somebody come and have a no-bed syndrome?" she questioned.
The Deputy Minister said the Ministry is advocating for a coordinated digital system capable of tracking available hospital beds across the country, including specialised units such as:
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds
- Maternity ward beds
- Orthopaedic ward beds
She explained that such a system would enable ambulance services to identify the nearest hospital with available capacity before arriving with a patient.
"We believe that if we have a proper management system that tells you that, for instance, in real time, Ridge Hospital has one ICU bed, two maternal beds and one orthopaedic bed, when the ambulance is coming, we can know where to take the patient," she said.
The Ministry of Health maintains that the available evidence does not support claims of a nationwide shortage of hospital beds. Instead, officials argue that inefficient communication and weak coordination among health facilities contribute to cases where patients are reportedly denied admission.
The government believes strengthening hospital bed management and improving information sharing between health facilities will help ensure patients receive timely medical care while reducing complaints associated with the country's long-standing "no-bed syndrome."
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