The Deputy Medical Director of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Yaw Opare Larbi, has emphasised the growing pressure on the facility as the “no bed” syndrome persists.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, he raised concerns that the recently reported situation at Korle mirrors what is happening at KATH, but with even greater strain.
“What happens in Korle Bu is no different from what happens in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), but I will say that sometimes our situation is even worse… we are under more pressure,” he said.
According to him, the scale of referrals continues to increase the hospital’s burden. He indicated that they receive referrals from about 12, sometimes even 13, regions of Ghana, apart from their own patients in the city of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region.
Dr Larbi noted that “Komfo Anokye is the only tertiary facility in the Ashanti Region, and it serves quite a big distance.”
The “no bed” syndrome, which has resurfaced in recent months, has exposed systemic pressure points in Ghana’s healthcare system, particularly in tertiary facilities expected to handle complex cases from across the country.
The situation at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is exacerbated by its role as the main referral hub for a wide geographical area, making it a destination for patients far beyond the Ashanti Region.
Amid rising concerns, the spotlight is once again on the structural challenges within Ghana’s health system and the urgent need to address capacity constraints at key referral hospitals.