The Korle-Bu Doctors’ Association (KODA) has raised fresh concerns over conditions at the Accident and Emergency Centre of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, warning that the challenges go far beyond bed shortages and point to deeper structural failures within Ghana’s healthcare system.
In a statement issued on March 23, 2026, the Association stressed that persistent congestion at the facility is largely driven by an inefficient national referral system, which continues to place overwhelming pressure on the country’s premier teaching hospital.
According to KODA, many lower-level health facilities lack the capacity to manage complex medical cases, resulting in a constant flow of referrals to Korle-Bu, often without adequate coordination.
“The provision of 1,000 extra beds would not immediately translate into enough health personnel to take care of these patients. Any number of beds provided in Korle-Bu would be filled up in no time, because the referring hospitals don’t have the capacity to take care of the conditions they are referring,” the Association stated.
The group noted that the situation underscores long-standing weaknesses in Ghana’s healthcare structure, particularly the absence of a well-coordinated and efficient referral network that ensures patients are treated at appropriate levels of care.
KODA is therefore urging authorities at Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to collaborate closely with hospital management to strengthen referral pathways and build capacity across lower-tier facilities, rather than relying heavily on a single institution.
The concerns come amid renewed public attention on conditions at the hospital’s emergency centre, following reports of severe overcrowding, with some patients reportedly receiving care in unsuitable spaces.
Beyond infrastructure challenges, the Association also highlighted growing legal risks for doctors working under such intense pressure. It advised members to thoroughly document the conditions under which care is provided, especially in situations where patients are treated in non-ideal environments, including on the floor due to space constraints.
Doctors have further been encouraged to formally report instances of overcrowding and resource shortages to their supervisors, including Heads of Unit and the Director of Medical Affairs, to ensure accountability and institutional awareness.
KODA also cautioned its members against compromising professional and ethical standards despite the difficult working conditions.
“The law courts would not accept such a sacrifice,” the statement warned, noting that clinicians could still be held liable for adverse outcomes even in constrained environments.
While acknowledging that proposals to address these challenges have already been put forward by the Ghana Medical Association and other stakeholders, the Association emphasised that the critical issue remains the political will to implement these recommendations.
KODA concluded that resolving the crisis at Korle-Bu will require a comprehensive, system-wide approach—one that strengthens healthcare delivery at all levels, reduces preventable deaths, and improves working conditions for frontline medical professionals.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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