The “No Bed Syndrome” in Ghanian Tertiary Hospitals

In 2018, a new phrase emerged in Ghanaian society after the death of a 70-year-old man. He died after several failed attempts to secure admission in seven hospitals, including Ridge Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. “No-Bed Syndrome” describes the significant shortage of hospital beds in Ghana. According to the World Health Organization, every country needs approximately five beds for every 1,000 people in its population. But in Ghana, there are just 0.9 beds per 1,000 people. In fact, Ridge Hospital — one of the country’s main hospitals— still has a bed shortage even after being upgraded from a 200-bed capacity to a 420-bed capacity in 2017. This report examines the causes of bed shortages at Ridge Hospital. Considering technology’s widespread efficiency in improving healthcare, it also investigates why technological means are slow to be adopted to mitigate the country’s lack of beds.