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Former Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Justice Yankson, has raised serious concerns about Ghana’s emergency healthcare system, describing it as poorly equipped, underfunded and unable to adequately respond when patients need urgent care.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Desk on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, Dr Yankson referenced the recent incident at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where a road accident victim died after reportedly being turned away from three hospitals while in an ambulance. Following the incident, the hospital’s management interdicted two doctors and two nurses in connection with the case.
“This tragedy shows exactly what is wrong with our emergency system,” Dr Yankson said. “We have a lot of structural and systemic gaps. A patient in an emergency can be denied care simply because the facility does not have the right equipment, personnel or expertise.”
He stressed that the problem is not limited to Korle Bu but reflects broader systemic weaknesses nationwide.
“Even if you have a polyclinic nearby, it might not be able to handle certain emergencies. The entire system, from pick-up to hospital care, needs a coordinated, well-funded plan,” he added.
Dr Yankson urged the government and the Ministry of Health to invest in a functional emergency response system, including a central command centre to monitor bed availability and ensure patients are directed to facilities capable of managing their conditions.
Reflecting on past efforts, he noted that emergency care guidelines introduced in 2011 have largely gone unimplemented.
“As a country, we have ignored this for decades. Every government has had the chance to fix it, yet the system remains inadequate,” he said.
The former GMA Vice President called for emergency care to be elevated as a national priority, emphasising that proper investment and coordinated planning could help prevent tragedies similar to the Korle Bu incident.
Public outrage over the case has reignited debate about the state of Ghana’s emergency healthcare system, underscoring the urgent need for reforms to safeguard patients’ lives.
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