The Ghana National Ambulance Service is facing a critical shortage of ambulances in the Greater Accra Region, leading to the rationing of emergency response services, according to the Head of Dispatch, Joyce Avadzinu.
Speaking to Citi News, Ms. Avadzinu revealed that only about 42 ambulances are currently operational across the entire region, significantly straining the ability to respond to emergencies efficiently.
“We are managing because, with the 42 ambulances, most of them will be on cases at the time a request comes. So, if the case is in an inter-hospital referral and the patient can wait, we will make them wait,“ she said.
Due to the limited fleet, dispatchers are prioritizing only the most severe cases, including road traffic accidents and sudden medical collapses.
“As we make the dispatch, we try to keep some so that when there is a very severe emergency, like RTA, or sudden collapse, then we move them,” Ms. Avadzinu explained.
She added that dispatchers are in constant coordination with ambulance stations to manage the limited resources as efficiently as possible.
“So, anytime we move an ambulance, we alert the stations to be on standby. When they return then we can move them. Although this is difficult, we still have to manage with what we have,” she stated.
The National Ambulance Service has not yet issued an official response to the growing concerns over emergency service coverage in the region.
