Parliament’s Select Committee on Health has assured medical staff at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital of ongoing efforts to tackle acute shortages of medical officers and inadequate emergency infrastructure at Ghana’s premier referral facility.
The hospital is grappling with significant gaps in medical officer numbers, with reports indicating that only about 50 house officers are available—far below what is required to sustain critical care services.
Speaking to Starr News, the Committee Chairperson, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, said various measures are in the pipeline to improve working conditions and close the staffing gaps.
Dr. Nawaane praised the dedication of Korle-Bu staff and urged them to continue working diligently despite the difficulties.
He stressed that the hospital should not turn away any patient presenting at the emergency unit.
He described the current emergency capacity of roughly 60 beds as “woefully inadequate,” noting that the ratio of emergency beds to the hospital’s overall bed complement is too low.
The Chairperson called for the emergency unit’s bed numbers to be at least doubled to meet rising demand from patients arriving daily by ambulance from across the country.
Dr. Nawaane said solving the twin challenges of staffing and emergency space would put Korle-Bu on a stronger footing to manage its heavy patient load.
He emphasised the need to address the persistent “no-bed syndrome” comprehensively so that units do not face the risk of closing due to lack of space.
The Committee’s assurances come amid broader concerns about the impact of staffing shortfalls and infrastructure constraints on healthcare delivery at the teaching hospital, which continues to serve as the main referral centre for complex and emergency cases nationwide.
Meta description: Parliament’s Health Committee Chair Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane assures Korle-Bu doctors of steps to fix medical officer shortages and double emergency beds, urging no patient turnaways despite challenges.
