Akandoh unveils digital system to monitor hospital bed availability nationwide

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced plans to use a digital monitoring system to improve visibility on hospital bed availability across Ghana, as part of efforts to address congestion in emergency departments.

The system is designed to provide real-time information on available beds at participating health facilities, enabling the minister and health authorities to determine whether hospitals have available beds before patients are referred elsewhere.

Speaking during a demonstration of the system, Mr. Akandoh said the lack of reliable information on bed availability often results in patients being turned away from facilities that may still have space.

“We have at hand before looking at expansion what we have because there are instances where there will be empty beds elsewhere and you go to another facility and they say the place is full,” he said.

“It is just because we don’t have visibility on the number of beds we have in the whole country.”

According to the minister, a small committee was established to develop a system that would allow him to monitor bed availability from his office through digital screens.

Beyond monitoring available beds, the system is expected to help health authorities identify patients who remain in emergency departments for more than 24 hours.

Mr. Akandoh said the information would allow him to question prolonged stays and establish whether there were clinical or operational reasons for the delays.

“So for example in Korle bu, if somebody goes there and they say there’s no beds, I’ll be able to confirm from these screens whether or not there are no beds,” he explained.

“Whether or not a patient has been at emergency for more than 24 hours. There may be good reasons why a patient is there, but I’ll begin to inquire why has this patient been on this bed for more than 24 hours in an emergency.”

He said hospital officials should explain the circumstances behind such cases, allowing management to identify challenges and improve the use of available resources.

The minister stressed that the technology would improve coordination rather than directly increase the number of physical beds.

“This will not necessarily, I hear this propaganda a lot, this will not necessarily add physical beds, but it will help us to manage what we have,” he said.

Mr. Akandoh said the system was currently being piloted, with teaching hospitals and other selected facilities participating.

He indicated that the initiative would be expanded to regional hospitals once the pilot phase had been tested and strengthened.

“When we finish, the Regional Hospitals will be tested, and we’ll think that it’s solid and we can go to the district level; we’ll also put all of them on,” he said.

The planned expansion is intended to give health authorities a broader picture of bed availability and support better coordination of patients requiring emergency care.

The minister said the monitoring system formed part of wider reforms aimed at reducing congestion in emergency departments and making more effective use of existing health infrastructure.

The government is also considering additional emergency beds and expanded facilities at major hospitals to complement the technology-driven approach.

The ultimate objective, Mr. Akandoh said, is to improve access to emergency care and increase the chances of survival for patients across the country.