The Ghana National Ambulance Service in the Greater Accra Region is grappling with a severe shortage of ambulances, with only 42 vehicles available to serve the entire region.
According to Joyce Avadzinu, Head of Dispatch for the service, the shortage is forcing dispatchers to ration emergency responses, prioritizing only the most life-threatening cases.
Speaking to Citi News, Ms. Avadzinu explained that due to the limited fleet, dispatchers are often compelled to hold back ambulances for critical emergencies such as road traffic accidents or sudden collapses. Less urgent cases, including inter-hospital referrals, are frequently delayed, with patients asked to wait until an ambulance becomes available.
“We are managing because, with the 42 ambulances, most of them will be on cases at the time a request comes,” she said.
“So, if the case is in an inter-hospital referral and the patient can wait, we will make them wait. 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,”she added.
The shortage has significant implications for emergency services in the region, with dispatchers struggling to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.
Ms. Avadzinu added that dispatchers are constantly coordinating with ambulance stations to ensure availability for critical situations, alerting them to be on standby when an ambulance is dispatched.