At least 8 out of the 10 regional hospitals in the country have the necessary life support equipment and can perform the intensive care procedures needed to save lives in case of emergency.

This is according to a report issued by Ghana Harmonized Health Facility.

In the 2022-2023 document sighted by JoyNews, district and other hospitals as well as polyclinics were found to have less equipment for life support and intensive care.

The report also indicated that hospital-owned medical oxygen sources are not as widely available as needed.

Again, general purpose ultrasound and x-ray services are the only imaging modalities available in at least 7 out of the 10 district and regional hospitals.

“Overall, availability of medical imaging equipment and services is limited (27% for ultrasound and 6% for x-ray). High end modalities for specialized diagnostic imaging procedure are lacking, with less than 20% of regional hospitals offering mammogram, CT scan, MRI, and fluoroscopy services. With regards to gastrointrstinal endoscopy, colonoscopy was available in 12% of regional hospitals,” it added.

With regards to offering inpatient service, the document emphasised that only 38% of all facilities have dedicated isolation bed.

It clarified that 74% of regional hospitals, 68% of district hospitals and 36% of other general hospitals which offered inpatient services had dedicated isolation bed.

This assessment comes at a time when the scarcity of hospital beds, known as the "No Bed Syndrome" has become a public health safety hazard which needs urgent attention.

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