The Korle-Bu Doctors’ Association (KODA) has stated that the challenges at the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital extend far beyond the issue of bed shortages, pointing instead to weaknesses in Ghana’s referral system.

In a statement issued on March 23, 2026, the association explained that persistent congestion at the emergency unit is largely due to referrals from lower-level health facilities that lack the capacity to manage certain cases, leaving Korle-Bu as the main point of care.

According to KODA, simply increasing bed capacity would not resolve the problem. The association noted that even the addition of 1,000 beds would not immediately translate into adequate staffing to care for patients, adding that any expansion would quickly be overwhelmed due to continued referrals from under-resourced facilities.

The group stressed that the situation reflects broader structural challenges within the healthcare system, particularly the absence of a well-coordinated and efficient referral network.

KODA has therefore called on hospital management to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to strengthen referral pathways, ensuring patients receive appropriate care at different levels of the system rather than overwhelming a single tertiary facility.

The concerns come amid renewed public attention on conditions at the hospital’s emergency centre, following reports of overcrowding and patients being treated in unsuitable spaces.

Beyond the systemic issues, the association also raised concerns about the legal risks faced by doctors working under such conditions. It advised its members to carefully document the circumstances under which they provide care, especially when patients are treated in suboptimal environments, including on the floor due to limited space.

Doctors were further encouraged to formally report cases of overcrowding and resource shortages to their supervisors, including Heads of Unit and the Director of Medical Affairs.

KODA also urged its members to maintain professional and ethical standards despite the challenges, cautioning that difficult working conditions may not shield clinicians from legal accountability in cases of adverse outcomes.

While acknowledging that several recommendations have already been proposed by the Ghana Medical Association and other stakeholders, the association emphasised that the key issue remains the political will to implement these solutions.

It concluded that addressing the situation at Korle-Bu will require a comprehensive, system-wide approach that strengthens capacity across all levels of healthcare, rather than focusing solely on expanding infrastructure at a single facility.

Read the full statement below: