29
Government hospitals
Regional, district and specialist hospitals under DHAS oversight.
Who we are
About DHAS
The Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS) is a technical directorate within the Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone, responsible for providing strategic leadership, coordination, supervision and oversight of hospital and ambulance services.
DHAS plays a central role in strengthening the performance of hospitals and referral services by supporting effective hospital governance, quality improvement, clinical service delivery, infrastructure development, human-resource capacity, emergency referral systems, biomedical equipment management, hospital performance monitoring and accountability.
The Directorate works closely with hospital management teams, the National Emergency Medical Services (NEMS), district health authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure that hospitals provide safe, efficient, equitable and patient-centred healthcare services.
DHAS also has an important role in implementing the National Hospital Strategy and strengthening hospital systems across Sierra Leone. Recent hospital performance reviews have focused on hospital governance, service utilisation, infrastructure, workforce capacity, data systems, emergency referral systems and biomedical engineering.
The establishment of the Biomedical Unit within DHAS in March 2025 further strengthened the Directorate’s role in installation, calibration and preventive maintenance of medical equipment, with the ultimate goal of improving quality of care and patient safety.
Key areas of DHAS work
- Hospital leadership, governance and management
- Hospital inspection, supervision and performance monitoring
- Quality improvement and patient safety
- Clinical service delivery and efficiency
- Emergency and referral services
- Ambulance and emergency medical services coordination
- Hospital infrastructure and rehabilitation
- Biomedical engineering and medical equipment management
- Hospital workforce and capacity strengthening
- Hospital data, reporting, monitoring and evaluation
- Hospital supplies and logistics coordination
- Partnerships and technical assistance
- Implementation of hospital policies, standards and strategies
Our impact
DHAS by the numbers
Oversight and support delivered across every district of Sierra Leone.
200+
Ambulances
National emergency fleet coordinated for referrals and pre-hospital care.
1,500+
Healthcare facilities
Facilities linked into the national referral and emergency network.
3,000+
Staff trained
Clinical, biomedical and management staff supported through DHAS programmes.
10
Current projects
Infrastructure, equipment and service improvement projects underway.
16
Districts covered
Every district in Sierra Leone is served by DHAS supervision.
Our Vision
An equitable, accessible, affordable, resilient, efficient and patient-centred hospital and emergency care system delivering safe, equitable and high-quality healthcare services for all in Sierra Leone.
This vision aligns with the Ministry’s broader vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage through an efficient, high-quality, accessible, equitable and affordable health system.
Our Mission
To provide strategic leadership, coordination, supervision and support to hospitals and emergency medical services in Sierra Leone, ensuring quality, safe, efficient, equitable and patient-centred healthcare through effective governance, skilled health workers, functional infrastructure, appropriate technology, reliable referral systems and continuous quality improvement.
This reflects DHAS’s documented focus on strengthening hospital leadership and governance, improving clinical services, supporting infrastructure and equipment, and strengthening emergency referral systems.
Mandate
Our Mandate
To provide strategic and technical oversight for hospital and emergency medical services in Sierra Leone and to ensure that hospitals operate effectively, safely and accountably in accordance with national health policies, standards, strategies and regulations.
1. Hospital governance and leadership
Strengthen hospital management structures, leadership, accountability and institutional performance.
2. Hospital supervision and inspection
Conduct regular supervision, monitoring and assessment of hospitals to identify gaps and facilitate corrective action.
3. Quality of healthcare
Promote quality improvement, patient safety, clinical effectiveness and standards of care across hospitals.
4. Emergency and referral services
Strengthen emergency medical response, ambulance services and referral pathways between PHUs, district hospitals and higher-level facilities.
5. Hospital infrastructure and equipment
Support the development, rehabilitation, maintenance and effective utilisation of hospital infrastructure, medical equipment and technology.
6. Biomedical engineering
Coordinate biomedical engineering support, including installation, calibration and preventive maintenance of medical equipment.
7. Human-resource capacity
Identify workforce gaps and support training, mentorship, deployment and continuous professional development with relevant Ministry directorates.
8. Hospital performance and data
Strengthen hospital performance monitoring, reporting, data quality and evidence-based decision-making.
9. Partnerships and coordination
Coordinate with development partners, NGOs, professional bodies and other stakeholders supporting hospital and emergency services.
10. Policy and strategy implementation
Support implementation, monitoring and review of national hospital policies, strategies, standards and guidelines.
What guides us
Core Values
Patient-Centeredness
We put the needs, safety, dignity and wellbeing of patients at the centre of everything we do.
Integrity
We uphold honesty, professionalism, ethical conduct and transparency in the delivery and management of hospital services.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our decisions, actions, resources and results.
Excellence
We continuously strive for high standards of clinical care, hospital management and emergency services.
Teamwork & Partnership
We work collaboratively with healthcare workers, hospitals, communities, partners and other stakeholders to achieve shared health outcomes.
Innovation
We embrace evidence, technology, data and new approaches to improve healthcare delivery and hospital performance.
Our team
Meet the DHAS Team
The people behind the Directorate's work — inspecting, supporting and strengthening hospital services across Sierra Leone.
Our team · Structure
Directorate Organogram
DHAS is organised around its major functions. The structure below is proposed and pending validation of titles and reporting lines by the Director before official publication.
Ministry of HealthDirectorate of Hospital & Ambulance Services — Director
Office of the Director
- Director
- Administrative / executive support
- Communications & media
- Coordination and partnerships
Hospital Governance, Inspection & Performance
- Hospital supervision and inspection
- Governance and leadership
- Hospital performance monitoring
- Quality improvement
- Accountability and compliance
Clinical Services & Quality Improvement
- Clinical service standards
- Patient safety
- Clinical efficiency
- Clinical audits
- Hospital service standards
Emergency & Ambulance Services
- Emergency referrals
- Ambulance coordination with NEMS
- Referral pathways
- Emergency preparedness
- Emergency service performance
Biomedical Engineering Unit
- Medical equipment assessment
- Installation and calibration
- Preventive maintenance and repairs
- Equipment inventory
- Biomedical workforce development
Hospital Infrastructure & Engineering
- Hospital infrastructure
- Rehabilitation projects
- Maintenance coordination
- Facility standards and assessments
- Expansion and development planning
Technical Assistance — Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Data
- Hospital performance indicators
- Data quality and routine reporting
- Performance reviews and analysis
- Monitoring DHAS programmes
- Evidence-based decision-making
Technical Assistance — Administration, Finance & Operations
- Administration
- Budget coordination
- Logistics and procurement coordination
- Asset management
- Transport and operational support
Communications & Media
- Public information and media relations
- Social and digital communications
- Hospital communications
- Photography and videography
- Documentation of DHAS achievements
Note: this is a proposed functional structure, not yet an official DHAS organogram. The Ministry currently publishes a general Ministry organogram only.
Our management
Directorate Management
The Directorate is led by the Director, supported by unit heads who oversee biomedical engineering, technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation, surgical and anaesthesia planning (NSOAP) and hospital inspection.
Director, DHAS
Overall leadership, strategy and accountability for hospital and ambulance services nationwide.
Head, Biomedical Engineering
Installation, calibration, preventive maintenance and lifecycle management of medical equipment.
Head, Technical Assistance — Operations
Day-to-day operational support and supervision for hospital management teams.
Head, Technical Assistance — M&E
Hospital performance data, indicators, reporting and quality dashboards.
Coordinator, NSOAP
National surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia planning and implementation.
Head, Inspectorate
Inspection, standards compliance and quality assurance across hospitals.
Leadership
Message from the Director
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS), Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone.
The Directorate is committed to strengthening hospital and emergency medical services across the country by promoting quality, safe, equitable, efficient and patient-centred healthcare delivery. Our work is centred on improving hospital governance and leadership, strengthening clinical services, enhancing emergency and referral systems, supporting hospital infrastructure and biomedical equipment, and promoting continuous quality improvement.
We recognise that strong hospitals are fundamental to a resilient health system. Therefore, DHAS continues to work closely with hospital management teams, healthcare workers, development partners, district health authorities and communities to identify challenges, implement practical solutions and improve health outcomes.
Our commitment extends beyond infrastructure and equipment. We believe that people are at the heart of healthcare. We are therefore committed to supporting our healthcare workers through effective supervision, capacity building, mentorship, improved working environments and stronger systems of accountability and performance.
As we move forward, we will continue to embrace innovation, data-driven decision-making, teamwork, transparency and accountability. We will also strengthen partnerships and ensure that resources are directed towards interventions that have the greatest impact on patients and communities.
Our vision is clear: to build a resilient, efficient and patient-centred hospital and emergency care system that provides safe and high-quality services to every Sierra Leonean.
I invite all staff, partners and stakeholders to join us in this important journey. Together, through dedication, professionalism and collective action, we can transform our hospitals and contribute to a stronger and healthier Sierra Leone.
Ministry of Health
MOH Leadership
DHAS operates under the Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone. The Directorate reports through the Ministry’s senior leadership and aligns its work with national health policy, the National Hospital Strategy and the drive towards Universal Health Coverage.
Visit the Ministry of Health website