Ray of Hope

A 2010 publication by the Ghana health service reported the doctor to population ratio as 1: 11, 929    while a 2014 report showed a slight decrease (1: 9,043) 1,2 . These numbers indicate that Ghanaian doctors are burdened with a high patient load. As a result, patients may not receive the needed care and in some instances, a delay in receiving appropriate care even in emergencies. The above problem was highlighted a few weeks ago when we admitted a young adult male patient to the emergency department in our hospital. He presented with diffuse abdominal pain, vomiting, rigors and hyperthermia. A focused assessment revealed a strangulated inguinal hernia which warranted immediate surgical intervention. Since our facility lacks a surgeon, we contacted the tertiary facility about 45 minutes away to refer this patient for further management but were informed that they were at full capacity and lacked extra hospital beds to admit this patient. Our pleas that this was an emergency did