Kumasi: Medical doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have initiated an indefinite strike starting Saturday, June 6, in response to the suspension of the hospital's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) announced this decision after an emergency meeting on June 5. The association expressed concerns regarding the suspension, arguing that the measures taken by the hospital management to manage severe congestion at the Emergency Department focused on patient care rather than warranting disciplinary action.
The doctors unanimously supported management's decision to halt new emergency admissions temporarily and collaborate with nearby health facilities during the congestion crisis. This move was described as a necessary clinical and administrative step to prevent avoidable loss of life and ensure patient safety.
KADA highlighted that KATH, the main tertiary referral center for the middle and northern sectors of Ghana, operates under significant infrastructure constraints despite increasing patient numbers. The association stated that the challenges faced by the hospital reflected longstanding systemic issues requiring urgent policy and infrastructure interventions, rather than punitive measures against healthcare leaders.
The suspension of the Chief Executive Officer was condemned by the association, describing it as unjustified and counterproductive to efforts aimed at addressing the hospital's underlying problems. As a resolution, KADA announced a complete withdrawal of services by medical doctors at KATH, effective from 0600 hours on Saturday, June 6.
The industrial action will continue until the CEO's suspension is reviewed and reversed, and the hospital's Board establishes clear policies on managing situations when emergency capacity is exceeded. KADA also urged the Ministry of Health to provide timelines for operationalizing the Sewua Hospital and the Afari Military Hospital, and for retooling KATH and other health facilities in the Ashanti Region to alleviate pressure on the teaching hospital.
Additionally, the doctors plan to engage the public and other stakeholders through the media to highlight the chronic mismatch between patient demand and available infrastructure and resources within the health sector. KADA emphasized that the strike is not intended to undermine healthcare delivery but to draw national attention to issues concerning patient and caregiver safety, clinical governance, professional accountability, and the sustainability of healthcare services at the country's second-largest teaching hospital.
The association appealed to the Board of KATH to engage with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to secure an amicable resolution to the impasse and prevent further disruptions in healthcare delivery.