The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has defended the temporary measures implemented by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to manage congestion at its Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre, describing them as necessary steps to protect patients and maintain quality healthcare.
The statement follows public concern after KATH announced on June 2 that its Accident and Emergency Centre had become overwhelmed by a surge in patient numbers, prompting management to temporarily redirect some cases to other health facilities in the Ashanti Region.
The move sparked widespread debate, with some members of the public and stakeholders questioning whether emergency patients were being denied care. Reports also emerged that the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer had been queried over the handling of the situation.
In its statement issued on Thursday June 4, 2026, the GMA said its assessment of the situation showed that the hospital’s actions were prompted by severe overcrowding that had stretched the facility beyond its intended capacity.
According to the GMA, discussions with KATH management, staff of the A&E Centre, and a review of public explanations provided by the hospital’s Medical Director indicate that the measures were designed to ease pressure on the facility while ensuring critically ill patients continued to receive appropriate care.
The Association stressed that there was no indication that emergency patients were turned away. Rather, patients were to be redirected to peripheral health facilities within the Ashanti Region as part of a coordinated effort to manage the situation.
“The temporary measures announced by Management were intended to support the appropriate redistribution of patients to peripheral health facilities within the region while the Hospital addressed significant congestion and capacity constraints at its Accident and Emergency Centre,” the statement noted.
The GMA further cited minutes from a June 2 meeting of the Regional Health Directorate, which outlined agreed interventions aimed at reducing congestion at the hospital.
It explained that the number of patients seeking care at the emergency centre had exceeded the facility’s designed capacity, creating the need for urgent operational measures to safeguard patient safety and preserve the quality of treatment being delivered.
The Association welcomed reports that conditions at the A&E Centre have improved significantly since the interventions were implemented.
Beyond the immediate situation, however, the GMA said the incident underscores broader challenges facing emergency healthcare delivery in Ghana, including infrastructure and capacity constraints that continue to place pressure on major referral hospitals.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
