KATH doctors’ strike leaves patients stranded
Hundreds of patients who went to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital yesterday to seek medical care were stranded due to the withdrawal of services by doctors and nurses.
The patients, some of whom travelled from areas outside the Ashanti Region, were turned away due to the industrial action.
Accompanied by their relatives, some of the patients, after being turned away, were forced to seek medical care in nearby health facilities.
Strike
The Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) withdrew its services to register their displeasure about the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
During a visit to the teaching hospital yesterday morning, many visibly worried patients were spotted leaving the hospital’s premises after being informed that both the doctors and nurses were on strike.
At the Out-Patient Department (OPD), patients with scheduled appointments were assigned new review dates, while those with new cases were asked to return on another day.
When the team got to the OPD around 11:45 a.m., the usual busy atmosphere at the place on a daily basis was missing as a handful of patients were seen seated on plastic chairs waiting for their appointment dates to return later to receive medical care.
More importantly, it was gathered that despite the withdrawal of services, a special dispensation was put in place for some doctors to provide care to inpatients at the various wards and others in need of dire emergency medical care.
In an interview with some of the patients, they described the situation as a sad development, especially when some of them travelled long distances and incurred huge transportation costs in their quest to seek medical care.
One of the patients, Paul Mensah, who came from Dunkwa-On-Offin for a review of his medical condition, indicated that he was unaware of the strike action before embarking on the journey.
“In fact, I did not know of this industrial action. I only got here before hearing of it. I was supposed to see a doctor today, but I have been asked to return in three weeks,” he said.
Another patient, Martha Adjei, from Asuokoo, near Sampa, said she spent GH¢210 on a return journey only to be greeted with the strike by the doctors and nurses.
De-escalate situation
In an interview, the Regional Chairman of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Bernard Hammond, said after a meeting last Sunday with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, they resolved to de-escalate the situation by attending to inpatients and dire emergency cases.
He stated that the members were awaiting the outcome of a meeting between the sector minister and the board to determine the next line of action and stressed, “We are waiting for directions from the board after the meeting”.
Dr Hammond, who is also an Executive Member of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association, underscored the need for a well-established system of referrals and reverse referrals to improve healthcare delivery in all health facilities.
Return to duty
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer has expressed gratitude to the staff of the hospital for their solidarity during the period.
In a letter dated June 8, 2026, and addressed to the staff, he appealed: “I need you all to return to duty in the supreme interest of Ghanaians and our valued patients while I defer the outcome and directions to the supreme wisdom of the sector minister and the board”.
“I am committed to the cause of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana,” it ended.
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