Health Care Delivery In Ghana Research Articles

A mixed method study on the impact of COVID-19 on mental healthcare in Ghana: rethinking mental health service delivery.

Since its emergence, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused severe health, social and economic challenges. Mental healthcare has been significantly affected globally, and even worse in developing countries. An emerging economy like Ghana in West Africa was not spared its disruptive effects. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic (caused by SARS-CoV-2), on Ghana's mental healthcare system. This is a mixed-method study using an emergent sequential exploratory design. A total of 15 front-line healthcare professionals were recruited from the three psychiatric hospitals, including the mental health department of a new teaching hospital in Ghana. Purposive sampling techniques and a semi-structured interview approach were used for recruitment and data collection. Quantitative data from hospital registries were collected and analysed to triangulate qualitative findings. Fifteen mental health workers were enrolled in the study. The mean age of participants was (34.47 ± 4.07) years, average work experience of (6.23 ± 3.64) years and the majority as males (60%). This study found an average decline of 23% in hospital attendance and a 35% decline in admissions in all four facilities compared to the previous year, 2019. The lived experiences shared by mental healthcare providers were grouped under 3 main themes: Adjustments to workplace regulations, accessibility to mental healthcare, and psychological wellbeing of mental healthcare workers. The fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers, medication shortages, and logistical challenges were also reported to affect Mental Health services during the pandemic. This study highlights the challenges in mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. The experiences encountered present an opportunity to gain insights into future pandemic preparedness and establish a framework for optimal mental healthcare delivery in Ghana.

Effective use of electronic health records system for healthcare delivery in Ghana

Introduction: In the pursuit of improving effective health service delivery, developing nations including Ghana are progressively integrating electronic health record systems into healthcare frameworks. This research explored the proficient utilization of an EHR called the Lightwave Health Information Management System used by healthcare professionals in Ghana.Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design and a multi-stage sampling technique (stratified and simple random sampling) were used to recruit 1126 respondents for this study. Weighted averages were computed to determine scores for all the indicators measuring the effectiveness construct.Results: The study found that LHIMS improved productivity, patient data gathering, sharing of patient information among service providers, care continuity, data exchange among facilities, decision-making, and coordination/organization of care. Also, health professionals’ work experience, educational qualification, and training status were statistically significant predictors of effective use of the LHIMS at the multivariate level. Age and professional type were statistically significant only at the bivariate level.Conclusion: The study concludes that incorporating the LHIMS improves healthcare professionals' effectiveness in gathering patient information while reducing the likelihood of errors by promptly notifying them of any inaccuracies. The study emphasized the importance of training for effectively using the LHIMS.

Ghanaian views of short-term medical missions: The pros, the cons, and the possibilities for improvement

BackgroundVarious governments in Ghana have tried to improve healthcare in the country. Despite these efforts, meeting health care needs is a growing concern to government and their citizens. Short term medical missions from other countries are one of the responses to meet the challenges of healthcare delivery in Ghana. This research aimed to understand Ghanaian perceptions of short-term missions from the narratives of host country staff involved. The study from which this paper is developed used a qualitative design, which combined a case study approach and political economy analysis involving in-depth interviews with 28 participants.ResultFindings show short term medical mission programs in Ghana were largely undertaken in rural communities to address shortfalls in healthcare provision to these areas. The programs were often delivered free and were highly appreciated by communities and host institutions. While the contributions of STMM to health service provision have been noted, there were challenges associated with how they operated. The study found concerns over language and how volunteers effectively interacted with communities. Other identified challenges were the extent to which volunteers undermined local expertise, using fraudulent qualifications by some volunteers, and poor skills and lack of experience leading to wrong diagnoses sometimes. The study found a lack of awareness of rules requiring the registration of practitioners with national professional regulatory bodies, suggesting non enforcement of volunteers’ need for local certification.ConclusionShort Term Medical Missions appear to contribute to addressing some of the critical gaps in healthcare delivery. However, there is an urgent need to address the challenges of ineffective utilisation and lack of oversight of these programs to maximise their benefits.

Patients satisfaction with healthcare delivery in Ghana

BackgroundThe service industry has been an evolving sector and a great concern to providers ensuring continuously that clients’ satisfaction is met. Hence, the importance of patient satisfaction in the healthcare sector. This study focused on the satisfaction of women with the delivery of health services in Ghana and aims to be different from other studies which has focused on patient satisfaction with urban and rural health services, regional health services and health insurance. Our study examines the percentages of satisfaction with the multiple outcomes defined and identifies the key health system and demographic related factors associated with women satisfaction.MethodsThis study used data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and a total of 12,831 households were systematically selected with reproductive women aged 15–49 years eligible for interview. Data for this study was analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, chi square and regression analysis. A total of 3648 women were included in this study and the final analysis thus involved a weighted sample of 3507 women. Satisfaction indicators were put together into SERVQUAL dimensions in the study and reliability test run using Cronbach Alpha (α). All data analyses were carried out in STATA 13.0. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.ResultsAnalysis showed that independently, education and religion were significantly associated with service reliability, overall satisfaction and responsiveness. Payment option was also associated with responsiveness and tangibility dimensions. Furthermore, place of residence was independently associated with responsiveness, tangibility and overall satisfaction. Finally, maternal age, region, provider friendly, ease of getting care and opening hours were all independently associated with reliability, responsiveness, tangibility and overall service satisfaction at the multivariable level.ConclusionsDimensions of service quality which focus on patient-centered atmosphere and efficient service delivery system should be integrated and strengthened by hospital management in order to increase patient satisfaction. Key maternal characteristics and health system related factors were revealed to have positive association with patient satisfaction with health services delivery and this cannot be ignored by health care managers in ensuring that systems are improved for better health care.

Historicizing medical drones in Africa: a focus on Ghana

While the genesis of the drone technology is not clear, one thing is ideal: it emerged as a military apparatus and gained much attention during major wars, including the two world wars. Aside being used in combats and to deliver humanitarian services, drones have also been used extensively to kill both troops and civilians. Revolutionized in the 19th century, the drone technology was improved to be controlled as an unmanned aerial devices to mainly target troops. A new emerging field that has seen the application of the drone technology is the healthcare sector. Over the years, the health sector has increasingly relied on the device for timely transportation of essential articles across the globe. Since its introduction in health, scholars have attempted to address the impact of drones on healthcare across Africa and the world at large. Among other things, it has been reported by scholars that the device has the ability to overcome the menace of weather constraints, inadequate personnel and inaccessible roads within the healthcare sector. This notwithstanding, data on drones and drone application in Ghana and her healthcare sector in particular appears to be little within the drone literature. Also, few attempts have been made by scholars to highlight the use of drones in African countries. By using a narrative review approach, the current study attempts to address the gap above. Using this approach, a thorough literature search was performed to locate and assess scientific materials that focus on the application of drones in the military field and in the medical systems of Africa and Ghana in particular. With its sole responsibility to deliver items, stakeholders of health across several parts of the world have relied on drones to transport vital articles to health centers. Countries like Senegal, Madagascar, Rwanda and Malawi encouraged Ghana to consider the application of drones in her mainstream healthcare delivery. Findings from the study have revealed that Ghana’s adoption of the drone policy has enhanced the timely delivery of products such as test samples, blood and Personal Protective Equipment to various health centres and rural areas in particular. Drones have contributed to the delivery of equity in healthcare delivery in Ghana. We conclude that with the drone policy, the continent has the potential to record additional successes concerning the over-widened gap in healthcare between rural and urban populations.

Health-Care Students' Perception on the Role and Contribution of Pharmacists: A Case Study in Ghana

Objective: The objective of this study was to access the perception of non-pharmacy health-care students on the role and contribution of pharmacists in to health-care delivery in Ghana. Furthermore, the influence of factors such as sex, program of study and frequency of interaction with pharmacists on this perception was determined.
 Methods: A structured questionnaire was designed and administered to 670 medical, optometry and nursing students of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana after a pilot study was conducted. Results: The students strongly agreed that the role of the pharmacist is dispensing drugs, collaborating with physicians to prescribe medications. The students also appreciated the contribution of pharmacists in helping to reduce adverse reactions to medications. The students, however, showed little appreciation of pharmacists carrying out research or physical examinations and helping to reduce cost to patients. There was no effect of sex on the perception of students, although the frequency of interaction with pharmacists influenced their perceptions
 Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that non-pharmacy health students appreciate certain roles and contributions of pharmacists to health-care.

Assessing Whether Covid-19 Pandemic Has Brought Confidence or Trust in Health Care Delivery in Ghana or Globally

Background: Coronavirus is a virus from "Large family of enveloped” RNA Coronaviruses (CoVs) that have positive-strands and infect the respiratory tract of human beings and mammals. The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is from four (4) groups of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) such as HCoV 229E, NL63, and OC43. COVID-19 which is caused by SARS-CoV-2 has raised some issues about humans' life; researchers and the general public would like to know whether confidence/trust in health care delivery is one of them. The goal three (SDGs, 3) of the United Nations (UN) Sustainabel Development Goals (SDGs), which is Health and well-being, cannot be achieved in an environment of mistrust where there is no confidence. There can be no quality health care delivery in a trustless environment, especially amongst patients and health care providers! Psychosocial problems and perceptions are open secretes that create mistrust in health care delivery or medicine. To have quality health care delivery, our perception(s) that create(s) "psychological” or "emotional” problems is/are very important and must be considered, dealing with such issues would automatically lead to increased confidence that creates a trustworthy environment. As the saying goes, your health is your wealth! If people are falling sick and cannot work, poverty will also set in: therefore, they can not have peace.Aim: To assess whether COVID-19 Pandemic has revealed confidence in health care delivery in Ghana or globally and the effects of lack of confidence on health seeking or prevention behaviours.Methodology: Questionnaires would be given out to nine hundred (900) consented individuals (health professionals, and the general public who are above 18 years) to answer. Reactions of people on official social media groups like WhatsApp or Facebook will also be considered. Peer reviewed published and non-published literatures will be reviewed using related online publications between 1985 to 2020 that is applicable to this project. Three strategical search approaches will be used to search for literature: data from health and social issues , custom Google seacrhes; then consultation of experts for validation of results. Hypothesis: COVID-19 Pandemic has brought confidence/trust in Health Care Delivery in Ghana or globally.Expected Outcome: We expect the findings of the project to assess whether COVID-19 Pandemic brought some confidence in health care delivery in Ghana or Globally. The findings would also lead to increased trust or change of misconception(s) about health care delivery in Ghana or Globally. Findings of the project are expected to be out by the end of March, 2021.

Education of pharmacists in Ghana: evolving curriculum, context and practice in the journey from dispensing certificate to doctor of pharmacy certificate

BackgroundUnderstanding the origin and evolution of education of pharmacists is important for practice and health system reforms. In Ghana, education of pharmacists started in the 1880s with the training of dispensers in a government hospital. Over the years, the curriculum and institutional arrangements changed and currently pharmacists are trained in universities. In this study we explored how and why education of pharmacists evolved in Ghana.MethodsWe used a case study design to systematically describe education of pharmacists reforms. Data was collected from October 2018 and December 2019 through document review and in-depth interviews. The data was analysed based on institutional arrangements and contextual factors influencing reforms from the 1880s through 2012, when the Doctor of pharmacy programme was initiated in Ghana.ResultsReforms occurred around four main periods when institutional arrangements including the certificate awarded and expected roles were modified by educators and government. These are: (1) the Certificate of dispensing with dispenser-in-training and nurse-dispenser schemes (1880s to 1942), when dispensers were trained to assist doctors in dispensing or directly diagnosing and treating specific disease conditions. (2) the Diploma and Certificate of competency with the dispenser-in-training and pupil pharmacist schemes (1943 to 1960), where in addition to existing roles, pharmacists operated village dispensers. (3) the Bachelor of pharmacy degree (1961 to 2017), when pharmacists were trained mainly as medicines experts with a strong science base on all aspects of medicines from production, distribution and use; and over time with a gradual move to patient-oriented practice. (4) the Doctor of pharmacy degree (2012 to date), where in addition to existing roles, trainees are exposed to advance professional practice experiences. Important factors influencing the reforms included, health systems demands for village dispensaries and clinically oriented pharmacists, and harmonization with regional and international training and practice.ConclusionReasons influencing education of pharmacists reforms are context specific and are driven by historical experiences, national and international expectations as well as educators and regulators abilities to influence change. These reforms call for direct corresponding change in professional practice laws and regulation to enable pharmacists contribute fully to health care delivery in Ghana.

Partnership and collaboration in healthcare delivery in Ghana

The quest of most state or governments to adequately cater for the healthcare needs of its people continue to be a difficult task since many states have experienced, and continue to experience, a reduction in allocation of resources to the health sector. The involvement of the private sector in health care delivery is an option being explored by a number of states to augment resources in the health sector with some partnerships between the public and the private healthcare facilities in the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. However, not many empirical studies have been conducted to identify and better understand these partnerships between the state agencies and the private sector in Ghana. This study, therefore, sought to answer questions on the range of partnership and collaborative activities existing between public and private healthcare institutions in Ghana, the need for these collaborations and the factors that hinder these collaborations in Ghana. The study adopted the stakeholder theory as various stakeholders come together to ensure the delivery of healthcare in Ghana. The study revealed that there was no direct partnership between these two groups. They, however, collaborated in some instances under the umbrella of their governing organization. The perceived need for collaboration that was identified under the study was for the protection of human lives. The study concluded that this collaboration is necessary to ensure an efficient healthcare delivery.

Factors Influencing Clients’ Satisfaction with Healthcare Delivery in Ghana (A Case Study of the Tamale Teaching Hospital)

Factors Influencing Clients’ Satisfaction with Healthcare Delivery in Ghana (A Case Study of the Tamale Teaching Hospital)

Use of evidence and negotiation in the review of national standard treatment guidelines and essential medicines list: experience from Ghana.

Understanding how countries review their national standard treatment guidelines (STGs) and essential medicines list (EML) is important in the light of ever-changing trends in public health and evidence supporting the selection and use of medicines in disease management. This study examines the 2017 STGs and EML review process, the actors involved and how the list of medicines and disease conditions evolved between the last two editions. We examined expert committee reports, stakeholder engagement reports and the last two editions (2010, 2017) STGs and EML. The review process occurred in both bureaucratic and public arenas where various actors with varied power and interest engaged in ways to consolidate their influence with the use of evidence from research and practice. In the bureaucratic arena, a national medicines selection committee inaugurated by the Minister of Health assessed the 2010 edition through technical sessions considering the country's disease burden, hierarchical healthcare structure and evidence on safety and efficacy and expert opinion. To build consensus and ensure credibility service providers, professional bodies and healthcare managers scrutinized the assessed guidelines and medicines list in public arenas. In such public arenas, technical discussions moved towards negotiations with emphasis on practicability of the policies. Updates in the 2017 guidelines involved the addition of 64 new disease conditions in the STG, with the EML including 153 additional medicines and excluding 56 medicines previously found in the 2010 EML. Furthermore, the level of care categorization for Level 'A' [i.e. community-based health planning and services (CHPS)] and Level 'M' (i.e. midwifery and CHPS with a midwife) evolved to reflect the current primary healthcare and community mobilization activities for healthcare delivery in Ghana. Ghana's experience in using evidence from research and practice and engaging wide stakeholders can serve as lessons for other low and middle-income countries.

Modelling the influence of healthcare facilities management service quality on patients satisfaction

Purpose Facilities management (FM) professionals state that adopting FM will positively support core service delivery and ensure customer satisfaction. Evidences of such claim are important as it will enhance the rationale for institutionalising prudent FM service quality in hospitals in Ghana. This paper aims to assess the mediating effect of healthcare FM service quality on patients’ satisfaction and overall healthcare delivery. Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional study involving adult patients at the Physician outpatient departments and Polyclinics of Komfo Anokye, Tamale and Cape Coast Teaching hospitals in Ghana. A questionnaire survey using a well-structured five-point likert scale based on the SERVQUAL dimensions and Healthcare core service dimensions rooted in the FM framework was used to collect data from 660 patients. Smart PLS was used to analyse the data of 622 valid questionnaires. Findings The study results revealed that FM service quality mediates the relationship between patients’ satisfaction and three of the constructs under core healthcare delivery. That is, (the quality of healthcare delivery, the quality of healthcare personnel and the adequacy of healthcare resources) – surprisingly, the fourth construct (the quality of administration process) was not supported. Originality/value There is no or at best very limited studies on the contribution of healthcare FM on patients satisfaction of core healthcare delivery in Ghana. Therefore, this study will enrich and contribute to knowledge in healthcare FM in general and that of a developing African country in particular.

Science, Technology and Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: A Historical Perspective

Science, Technology and Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: A Historical Perspective

Examining the unresolved conundrum of Traditional Birth Attendants’ involvement in maternal and child health care delivery in Ghana

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) have been a critical human resource in maternal health care delivery in Ghana. However, following the World Health Organization’s directive for countries to discontinue using TBAs, the government of Ghana has since emphasized the use of skilled birth attendants. This policy shift created tensions between TBAs and Community Health Nurses. We examine this conundrum in this paper. We find that despite the ban, TBAs still attend a significant number of births – a situation which has produced intense contestations and continuous jostling for “functioning space” and clients between TBAs and nurses. We recommend a consensus-based partnership approach that promotes cultural competence and is sensitive to contextual cultural practices that underpin pregnancy and childbirth.

Examining the effect of perceived service quality of health care delivery in Ghana on behavioural intentions of patients: The mediating role of customer satisfaction

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of patients’ satisfaction in the relationship between perceived service quality (PSQ) and behavioural intentions. Data were collected from 178 patients selected from 35 health facilities in Ashanti Region of Ghana. A structural equation modelling technique was employed in estimating the proposed model using LISREL 8.5 and inter-construct correlation conducted in SPSS 16.0 to preview the associations among main constructs. Perceive service quality was positively and significantly related to both patients’ satisfaction and behaviour intentions which was also influenced by patient satisfaction in healthcare. The study confirmed the mediating role of satisfaction in the link between PSQ and behaviour intentions in healthcare. Based on these findings, it was suggested that, hospital managers must design patient-centered strategies to meet clients’ expectation and emphasizing both the technical and functional competence of the service providers to better serve their customers. The study has contributed to the literature by establishing the direct effect of service quality on behaviour intentions among patients and also establishing the indirect effect of service quality on behaviour intentions of patients through customer satisfaction.

Community health workers in Ghana: the need for greater policy attention

From the 1970s to the 1990s, the WHO, United Nations and other agencies mooted the idea of formally training and recognising community health workers (CHWs) to complement efforts to improve...

Improving Ghana's mental healthcare through task-shifting- psychiatrists and health policy directors perceptions about government's commitment and the role of community mental health workers.

BackgroundThe scarcity of mental health professionals places specialist psychiatric care out of the reach of most people in low and middle income countries. There is growing interest in the effectiveness of task shifting as a strategy for targeting expanding health care demands in settings with shortages of qualified health personnel.Given this background, the aim of our study was to examine the perceptions of psychiatrists and health policy directors about the policy to expand mental health care delivery in Ghana through a system of task-shifting from psychiatrists to community mental health workers (CMHWs).MethodsA self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was developed and administered to 11 psychiatrists and 29 health policy directors. Key informant interviews were also held with five psychiatrists and four health policy directors. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.ResultsAlmost all the psychiatrists and 23 (79.3 %) health policy directors were aware of the policy of the Government of Ghana to improve on the human resource base within mental health through a system of task-shifting. Overall, about half of the psychiatrists and 9 (31 %) health policy directors perceived there is some professional resistance to the implementation of the policy of task shifting. The majority of respondents were of the view that CMHWs should be allowed to assess, diagnose and treat most of the common mental disorders. The respondents identified that CMHWs usually perform two sets of roles, namely; officially assigned roles for which they have the requisite training and assumed roles for which they usually do not have the requisite training. The stakeholders identified multiple challenges associated with current task shifting arrangements within Ghana’s mental health delivery system, including inadequate training and supervision, poor awareness of the scope of their expertise on the part of the CMHWs.ConclusionPsychiatrists and health policy directors support the policy to expand mental health service coverage in Ghana through a system of task-shifting, despite their awareness of resistance from some professionals. It is important that the Government of Ghana upholds its commitment of expanding mental healthcare by maintaining and prioritizing its policy on task shifting and also providing the necessary resources to ensure its success.

Improving Ghana's mental health care through task shifting – psychiatrists and health policy directors views

BackgroundCurrently, Ghana has only twelfth psychiatrists in active service providing for the mental health needs of a population of nearly 25 million people. Ghana has therefore adopted a system of task-shifting to address the critical shortage of psychiatrists.AimTo examine the perception of psychiatrists and health policy directors about the government's policy to expand metal health care delivery in Ghana through a system of task-shifting from psychiatrists to community mental health workers (CMHWs).MethodsA self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was developed and administered to 11 psychiatrists and 29 health policy directors.ResultsOnly one psychiatrist and 3 (10.3%) health policy directors reported they were not aware of task-shifting within Ghana's mental health delivery system. Ten (91.1%) psychiatrists and 23 (79.3%) health policy directors were aware of a policy of the Government of Ghana to improve on the human resource base within mental health through a system task-shifting. Overall, 5 (45.5%) of the psychiatrists and 9 (31%) health policy directors perceived there are some resistance to the implementation of a policy of task shifting including resistance from traditional and spiritual healers, some psychiatrists, some community psychiatric nurses and psychologists. The majority of psychiatrists and health policy directors were of the view that CMHWs should be allowed to assess, diagnose and treat most of the common mental disorders.ConclusionPsychiatrists and health policy directors in Ghana support Governments policy to expand on mental health care delivery through a system of task-shifting despite their knowledge of resistance from certain professionals.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Malaria Control Mechanisms for Effective Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: The Use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Malaria is a major health problem facing many tropical countries, including Ghana. The use of modern mechanisms to study environmental factors in malaria occurrence is imperative in malaria control efforts. The aim of this research is to investigate how malaria occurrence is influenced by environmental factors and how Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can be used as a mechanism for improving malaria control in healthcare delivery in Ghana. Environmental factors, elevation, daily temperature and daily rainfall were plotted against prevalence of M and S forms of mosquitoes using ArcGIS 10.1. Prevalence of Anopheles gambiae M was the highest at elevations of 0 m to 200 m and that of S was the highest at elevations between 200 m and 500 m. Prevalence of M was the highest at temperatures between 26.1&degC - 27.6&degC whilst that of S was the highest at temperatures of between 24.5&degC and 26.0&degC. Prevalence of M was the highest at rainfall between 10 mm and 35 mm and S was the highest at rainfall between 26 mm and 36 mm and beyond. M form was positively correlated with temperature and negatively with elevation and humidity. The S form was negatively associated with temperature and positively with elevation and rainfall. GIS models can combine with environmental data to estimate vector prevalence under environmental conditions and therefore its use is recommended in Ghana.

An Analysis of Emergency Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: Lessons from Ambulance and Emergency Services in Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District

This paper explores the benefits of planning a reliable and effective ambulance and emergency service towards healthcare delivery at the District level in Ghana. It addresses the question of what should be the focus of such planning. A case study research design was adopted by employing detailed qualitative interviews with health staff, operators of ambulance services, police officers, victims of accident and emergency and private transport operators in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District. The study found that ambulance and emergency services were not effective and efficient due to poor planning. Other factors include the negative perception that ambulances carry dead bodies, the demand for payment before patients are transported by ambulances, high cost of fuel, inadequate number of ambulances and the failure of emergency patients to pay the agreed hospital bills and services. The study recommends public education on the ambulance and emergency services to rid off false perceptions. Planning must also explore how a district emergency fund can be set up to help alleviate the heavy financial burdens on patients and their families. Additionally, planning initiatives must promote the safety of accident and emergency victims by increasing the fleet of ambulance and emergency vehicles, improving upon the telephone and communication facilities and the training of more ambulance and health staff.Keywords: Ambulance, Emergency Services, Healthcare, Planning, Ghana