The Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Kapito, has called for urgent investment in high-quality hospital beds in Ghana, warning that the continued purchase of inferior beds undermines patient safety and hospital efficiency.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show on February 25, Mr Kapito highlighted the quality of internationally recognised beds, saying:
“The best hospital beds made in the world are made by a company called HillRom. You know the cost of a Hill-Rom bed even online or on their website.”

He stressed the scale and cost involved in procuring these beds:
“Can you imagine if you were buying ten thousand? It’s seven hundred and fifty dollars to eight hundred dollars a bed.”

Mr Kapito also pointed out the global reputation of Hill-Rom beds:
“Hillroom, ask any medical doctor, ask the Minister of Health if you know the bed called Hillroom. The best hospitals in the world, Johns Hopkins or wherever, those are the beds that we use.”

Reflecting on Ghana’s past purchases, he noted:
“Atta Mills purchased some of these hillroom beds. Go and check if those hillroom beds are still being used. Any other bed, because we buy the inferior ones and they break down.”

He emphasised that investing in durable, high-quality beds is essential for patient safety and the proper functioning of hospitals, as low-quality beds compromise healthcare delivery and strain hospital resources.

His comments come amid public concern over the death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, who sustained severe shoulder injuries in a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass in Accra in February.

He was stabilised by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and prepared for transfer to a hospital for further treatment.

Reports indicate that Amissah was unable to secure admission at the Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and Korle Bu due to a lack of available beds. While at Korle Bu, he reportedly went into cardiac arrest.