President Mahama Directs Health Minister to End ‘No Bed Syndrome,’ Expand Hospital Capacity
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister of Health to issue new guidelines aimed at eliminating the persistent “no bed syndrome” in health facilities across the country.
Delivering the State of the Nation Address on February 27, 2026, the President described the practice of turning away patients in emergencies as unacceptable and stressed that immediate steps must be taken to protect lives.
“The Minister of Health is expected to issue guidelines to eliminate the unacceptable no bed syndrome,” President Mahama told Parliament. “Patients facing medical emergencies must be received and given help.”
He emphasized that medical facilities have a duty to provide urgent care, even in challenging circumstances. “If even under makeshift conditions, you don’t need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient. No patient must be turned away from any health facility,” he stated.
The President acknowledged longstanding capacity constraints within the health sector but insisted that lack of beds should not justify refusal of emergency treatment. He assured Parliament that government will take parallel measures to expand infrastructure and improve service delivery.
As part of immediate interventions, President Mahama announced plans to implement Phase Two of the Ridge Hospital project to increase bed capacity at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. He also pledged to continue and complete ongoing works at the Police Hospital and the La General Hospital.
According to him, these projects form part of a broader strategy to strengthen emergency response systems and restore public confidence in healthcare delivery.
The President reiterated that access to emergency medical care is a fundamental obligation of the state. “We must build a health system that responds to people when they are most vulnerable,” he said.
Government expects the new directives and infrastructure expansion to significantly reduce incidents of patients being denied care due to lack of beds.
