Medical-legal claims against the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and its health facilities have been estimated to amount to approximately GH¢400 million over the last three years.
These claims are associated with 173 cases documented between 2023 and 2025. They encompass allegations of medical negligence, incorrect or delayed diagnoses, treatment or medication errors, insufficient informed consent, and injuries or fatalities purportedly resulting from inadequate care.
Dr. Caroline Reindorf Amissah, the Deputy Director-General of the GHS, revealed this information during the commencement of a five-day structured legal training program for legal officers of the GHS in Accra.
She noted that the number of cases surged from 40 in 2023 to 44 in 2024, and then to 89 in 2025, presenting considerable financial and reputational challenges to healthcare delivery.
“If this trend persists, the financial implications could become substantial, while also jeopardizing public trust in the health system,” she stated.
Addressing the theme, “Medicolegal Cases: The Bane of Healthcare Delivery in Ghana,” Dr. Amissah emphasized that ongoing medical-legal disputes could tarnish the reputation of healthcare institutions and diminish public confidence.
She remarked that certain referral hospitals are increasingly viewed by segments of the public as “death traps” due to their frequent admission of patients with critical conditions.
Dr. Amissah clarified that fatalities or poor outcomes at these facilities do not inherently signify negligence, explaining that some patients arrive at tertiary hospitals only after their conditions have severely worsened.
She advocated for enhanced public education regarding the significance of seeking medical care promptly to avert complications and enhance treatment results.
Dr. Amissah encouraged healthcare professionals to honor patients’ rights and ensure that proposed treatments and procedures are thoroughly explained to them.
She emphasized that when patients refuse treatment after being adequately informed of the associated risks and benefits, their decisions should be meticulously documented to safeguard both patients and healthcare providers.
