Ghana Ambulance Service faces scrutiny over equipment failures

A clinician has highlighted critical failures within the Ghana Ambulance Service following a life-threatening emergency during an ICU referral. During the transport of a patient suffering from refractory hypoxia, the ambulance's oxygen tubing repeatedly tore and failed, leaking life-saving gas into the vehicle instead of the patient.

The medical team attempted to repair the equipment with tape, but the tubing continued to snap. The crew also reported a lack of essential medication, specifically stating they had no adrenaline available during the emergency. The clinician, who had personally carried adrenaline and other supplies in their pockets, had to provide the medication to facilitate CPR after the patient lost a pulse. The incident underscores significant systemic issues regarding equipment reliability and the availability of basic medical supplies in Ghana's emergency response system.