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Resident doctors at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have raised serious concerns over worsening overcrowding and inadequate resources at the facility’s emergency unit, warning that the situation poses significant risks to patient safety and healthcare delivery.
In a solidarity statement issued on March 23, the Ghana Association of Doctors in Residency (GADOR) expressed strong support for doctors working under what it described as “extreme systemic strain,” particularly those in the Emergency Medicine Department.
According to the statement, the emergency unit has been forced to operate under non-ideal conditions, with patients reportedly receiving care while seated in chairs or lying on floors due to limited space and bed shortages. The association described these conditions as deeply concerning and reflective of longstanding structural challenges within Ghana’s healthcare system.
GADOR noted that the crisis extends beyond Korle Bu, pointing to broader systemic gaps such as inefficient referral pathways, weak pre-hospital emergency coordination, and the absence of a real-time national bed management system. These issues, it said, continue to place immense pressure on frontline health workers.
The association also highlighted the growing physical and emotional toll on medical staff, as well as the medico-legal risks they face while delivering care in compromised environments. Despite these challenges, resident doctors were commended for maintaining professionalism and upholding ethical standards.
GADOR is calling for urgent, system-wide reforms to address the situation, including strengthening referral networks, improving emergency department resourcing, and ensuring institutional protection for healthcare workers. It also urged the Ministry of Health and hospital management to prioritize sustainable, evidence-based solutions rather than temporary fixes.
“We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you,” the statement said in a message to doctors at Korle Bu, reaffirming the association’s commitment to advocating for improved healthcare delivery across the country.
The concerns raised add to growing public attention on conditions at Ghana’s premier referral hospital, with stakeholders warning that immediate action is needed to prevent further deterioration in emergency care services.
Yaw Boagyan
