GMA says no emergency patient was denied care at KATH despite congestion concerns

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has addressed public concerns over recent congestion at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), stating that no emergency patient was denied treatment during the period in question.

In a statement, the Association said it engaged hospital management, frontline health workers, and reviewed reports from KATH authorities and the regional health administration following widespread public discussion about the situation.

The GMA explained that the temporary measures introduced were intended to ease pressure on the emergency unit by redirecting some patients to other health facilities within the Ashanti Region.

It noted that KATH was operating beyond its designed capacity at the time, making urgent interventions necessary to maintain service delivery and ensure that already admitted patients continued to receive critical care.

According to the Association, the actions taken were consistent with decisions reached at a meeting convened by the Regional Health Directorate on June 2, 2026, where stakeholders agreed on coordinated steps to decongest the facility.

The GMA further stated that conditions at the Accident and Emergency Unit have since improved and are now under control.

Despite the improvement, it stressed that the incident reflects deeper, long standing challenges in Ghana’s emergency healthcare system and underscores the need for comprehensive reforms.

The Association called for increased investment in emergency healthcare infrastructure, stronger referral systems, and improved capacity at district and regional hospitals to ensure patients can access quality care closer to their communities.

“Every Ghanaian deserves prompt access to quality emergency healthcare, regardless of their location,” the statement said.

The GMA also commended healthcare workers at KATH and across the Ashanti Region for their dedication and resilience in managing patients under difficult conditions.

However, it raised concern about the wording of a query issued to the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, noting that the tone appeared to suggest misconduct on the part of management.

The Association expressed hope that ongoing discussions between the Minister of Health and KATH leadership would lead to meaningful improvements in emergency healthcare delivery rather than punitive actions.