The “No Bed Syndrome” in Ghanaian tertiary hospitals

Abstract

Executive Summary The global shortage of hospital beds, particularly in developing regions, poses a significant challenge to public health. Over 80 countries, including Ghana, fall below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of five hospital beds per 1,000 people. In 2019, the African region reported the lowest hospital bed per capita average at 1.3 beds per 1,000 people, well below the global average of 2.7 beds. This bed shortage, dubbed the “No Bed Syndrome” in Ghana, remains a critical issue for healthcare delivery. It is characterized by a hospital-bed-to-1,000-people ratio of 0.9 in 2021. This shortage impedes patient access to quality healthcare, leading to hospital overcrowding, heightened health risks, and even fatalities. In addressing this phenomenon, we examined the Ghanaian healthcare system, investigated the causes and effects of the bed shortage, and explored existing interventions to mitigate the issue in tertiary hospitals. The study adopted a sequential mixed method approach, which consisted of conducting key informant interviews with healthcare workers followed by quantifying the insights gathered from the interviewees. The study revealed four significant insights: • The concept of “bed capacity” involves not just the availability of beds but also the availability of resources, including healthcare professionals, to make those beds functional. • The hierarchical structure of Ghana’s healthcare system promotes decentralization but the inadequate distribution of resources across lower-level facilities causes the public to disregard the ideal structure and go directly to tertiary hospitals.

Description

Completed research conducted during 2022-23 year

Keywords

hospital bed shortage, shortage of health care resources

Citation

Agbatsi, Elvira Ayawa; Basil, Jochebed; Fiergbor, Christian Narh; Reindorf, Samantha; Agbodjah, Sena and Asante-Darko, Disraeli. February 2024. The “No Bed Syndrome” in Ghanaian Tertiary Hospitals. Research report prepared for Reach Alliance. Retrieved 17 March 2024 from https://reachalliance.org/case-study/no-bed-syndrome/

DOI