President John Dramani Mahama has directed all health facilities nationwide to immediately end the practice of rejecting emergency cases due to lack of bed space.
The statement follows the death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah, who was denied care by three major hospitals in Accra.
Addressing Parliament during his 2026 State of the Nation Address, the President made it clear that emergency care must never be delayed or refused because of logistical constraints.
“You do not need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient. No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to,” he stressed.
Mahama instructed the Ministry of Health to issue firm guidelines to abolish what has become known as the “no bed” response, insisting that medical professionals prioritise lifesaving intervention over administrative limitations.
He said the government’s broader health reforms, including the rollout of free primary healthcare and expanded investment in critical care services, are designed to remove systemic barriers and ensure timely access to treatment.
The President emphasized that protecting lives must remain the foremost responsibility of every health facility, regardless of operational pressures.
