“Prima facie evidence does not mean guilt” — GMA President calls for caution over Charles Amissah death report

President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Prof Dr Ernest Yorke, has urged the public to avoid hastily blaming doctors and nurses in the ongoing “no bed syndrome” controversy surrounding the death of Charles Amissah.

According to Prof Yorke, the incident highlights longstanding structural weaknesses within Ghana’s emergency healthcare system rather than being solely the fault of individual healthcare workers.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, May 8, he cautioned against treating preliminary committee findings as conclusive proof of negligence.

“It’s easy, because of how nice it may sound, to say that yes, the doctors and the nurses were culpable. The fact that the committee has found some initial prima facie evidence that they may be culpable does not mean they are guilty,” he explained.

Prof Yorke stressed that only a proper disciplinary and investigative process conducted by the appropriate institutions can determine culpability and impose sanctions where necessary.

“It is only a thorough disciplinary process instituted by the employer, whether Korle-Bu, Ridge, the Police Service, or even the Medical and Dental Council, that can establish potential guilt and pronounce sanctions. So let’s hold our horses,” he stated.

The GMA President clarified that the Association was not attempting to shield any individual from accountability but was instead advocating for a wider national discussion on the persistent challenges facing emergency healthcare delivery in Ghana.

“We are not holding brief for anybody. But let’s broaden the conversation. We’ve been discussing these issues for decades, and nothing has really changed. If you ask me, things are probably getting worse,” he said.

Prof Yorke referenced several recommendations proposed in recent reports, including the establishment of a national emergency tracking system to improve communication and coordination between ambulances and hospitals.

“The GMA has long advocated for an emergency tracking system so ambulances do not just move from one hospital to another,” he noted.

He explained that such a system would allow emergency teams to identify available hospital beds before transferring critically ill patients, thereby reducing delays and preventing patients from being stranded during emergencies.

“Once a decision is made, a central system should be able to identify where appropriate beds are available before the patient is moved,” he added.

The GMA President also called for increased investment in emergency healthcare services, including the training of more emergency physicians and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), improved healthcare policies, and stronger operational support for ambulance services.

He further encouraged greater collaboration with the private sector and the military to strengthen emergency response systems nationwide.

“We are not discussing enough about how to bring in the private sector, and I’m happy they are now involving the military as well,” he remarked.

Describing the “no bed syndrome” as a symptom of a broader healthcare crisis, Prof Yorke argued that the issue reflects systemic failures within Ghana’s emergency medical infrastructure.

“The issues surrounding this so-called no bed syndrome, which is really a euphemism for a failed emergency medical system, are many and complex,” he stated.

He explained that the challenges begin from the point where referral decisions are made and extend to ambulance response times, communication failures, limited emergency personnel, and inadequate coordination among health facilities.

“You need to look at where the decision to refer the patient starts from. You have to consider ambulance responsiveness, the training of emergency medical technicians, and the fact that we do not have enough trained EMTs across the country,” he said.

Prof Yorke revealed that Ghana currently has fewer than ten fully trained emergency medical technicians nationwide, with many ambulance staff functioning mainly as drivers responsible for transporting patients rather than delivering specialised emergency care.

“The rest are technically drivers. They just scoop and deliver,” he said.

He also highlighted operational difficulties affecting emergency services, including fuel shortages, poorly equipped ambulances, and weak communication systems between hospitals and ambulance teams.

“Sometimes people even have to pay for fuel before an ambulance can move. The ambulances are not properly equipped, and often, no calls are made ahead of time before patients arrive. They simply come and leave the patient at the hospital gate,” he stated.