Komfo Anokye junior doctors embark on indefinite strike; turn away pregnant women
Pregnant women who visited the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Tuesday were turned away by striking junior doctors who are compelling government to pay an outstanding nine months’ salary.
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The House Officers who are the main conduits to seeing specialists at the Poly Clinic Room 5 of the hospital locked up their rooms as pregnant women, some of whom have travelled long distances, wept and pleaded for help.
Not even the plea from a bleeding eight-month old pregnant woman, Margaret Adjei, from Tafo Pankrono could compel the doctors led by their president, Michael Boateng, to rescind their decision.
Doctor Boateng told Daily Graphic their situation was pathetic because after spending eight years at the Medical School to be trained as medical doctors, some of them still go to their parents for financial support.
“This is embarrassing and frustrating and our action should be understood in that contest,” Dr Boateng said.
The management of the KATH led by the CEO, Dr Joseph Akpaloo, met with the leadership of the House Officers last Sunday to try and convince them to rescind their decision after an early notification.
Unfortunately, the KATH executives after agreeing with the authorities in principle were compelled by the national executive of the group to go ahead with the strike.
But Dr Boateng said the group was willing to go back to work once their needs were met.
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Aside the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit, the strike action at other units of the hospital were not much felt since work was handled by mainstream doctors and specialists.
Officials of the hospital would not comment for now.