‘No bed syndrome’ goes beyond infrastructure – Lawyer Ofori Asiedu blames attitude of health workers

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Lawyer Denis Ofori Asiedu , has waded into the ongoing debate surrounding Ghana’s persistent “no bed syndrome,” arguing that the crisis extends far beyond the issue of hospital bed shortages.

In a discussion on Kessben Maakye with Kojo Preko Dankwa, he said the problem has existed for years and cannot be reduced to infrastructure deficits alone.

“The ‘no bed syndrome’ has been with us for some time now,” he stated, stressing that the situation goes beyond the mere unavailability of beds to include other critical services within the healthcare system.

Lawyer Asiedu expressed concern about the conduct of some health service workers, suggesting that negative attitudes among certain caregivers may be worsening the situation.

“The attitude of some health service workers is even worse than just the bed issue,” he noted.

He recalled an incident where his own friend was sent to some health facility for medical assistance but for negligence of the caregivers, an overdose of a wrong prescription was administered leading to the death of the patient.

He questioned how medical professionals would feel if their negligence resulted in the loss of a patient’s life.

“How would you feel as a nurse or a doctor if your negligence causes someone’s life?” he asked, calling for greater professionalism and accountability within the sector.

While acknowledging efforts to construct more hospitals across the country, the NDC member cautioned that infrastructure alone would not solve the crisis.

“Irrespective of the numerous hospitals we build, if the attitude of caregivers remains the same, we would not see meaningful change,” he emphasized.

His comments add to growing public discourse on the need for both systemic reforms and improved patient care standards in addressing Ghana’s healthcare challenges.