The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has defended the decision by Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to temporarily halt emergency admissions, describing the move as a necessary step to protect patient safety amid severe overcrowding.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (5 June), GMA Deputy General SecretaryDan Anane-Frimpong said the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit (A&E) had exceeded its capacity, forcing clinicians to take urgent operational measures.

“The facility, designed to handle about 37 patients, had admitted 61, with around 30 more waiting for beds,” he said, adding that some patients were being managed on stretchers, chairs and even mattresses on the floor.

He said the situation created heightened risks, including the spread of infections and increased likelihood of medical errors due to overstretched staff.

“When you have a congested emergency unit, patient safety is at risk, and the well-being of healthcare workers is also compromised,” Anane-Frimpong noted.

The decision to pause admissions followed consultations between hospital management, emergency physicians and regional health authorities, with some patients redirected to nearby facilities to ease pressure on the system.

Anane-Frimpong said such measures are standard practice globally in situations of extreme congestion.

“This is a technical, operational decision taken to prioritise those already under care and ensure they receive optimal treatment,” he said.

The move has sparked national debate after the Health Minister reportedly queried the hospital’s management over alleged defiance of a directive that emergency patients must not be turned away.

But the GMA criticised the tone of the response, describing it as premature.

“It would have been more appropriate to first seek a full briefing on the situation before issuing such a directive,” Anane-Frimpong said.

He warned that failing to act decisively in overcrowded emergency settings could lead to delays in treatment, which in critical cases can worsen outcomes or lead to death.

“In emergency care, delays can be fatal,” he added.