Health Minister inspects National Bed Management System

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has inspected the National Command Centre for Bed and Referral Management at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital as part of efforts to address Ghana’s persistent ‘no bed syndrome’.

The system provides real-time information on bed availability across participating hospitals, allowing emergency teams to identify suitable facilities for patients before ambulances are dispatched.

It is also expected to improve referrals, cut delays in emergency care and ensure better use of existing hospital beds.

During the visit, Mr Akandoh explained that the initiative would help prevent situations where hospitals turn away patients even though beds are available elsewhere.

He said the system would also enable health authorities to monitor emergency patients who remain on a bed for more than 24 hours and examine the reasons for the prolonged stays.

The minister noted that the project forms part of wider efforts to expand emergency capacity at selected teaching and regional hospitals, including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, 37 Military Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Project lead for Bed Management, Dr Justine Osei, said more than 650 hospitals have been captured in the system, with over 5,000 beds mapped for monitoring and regular updates.

The pilot currently covers teaching hospitals, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre.

It also tracks ambulance movements and helps match patients to facilities based on bed availability, medical needs, and distance.

The pilot is using 10 ambulances in Greater Accra and another 10 in the Ashanti Region.

The Ministry of Health plans to extend the system to all regional hospitals before rolling it out to district-level facilities.