KATH doctors launch indefinite strike over CEO suspension

Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have announced an indefinite withdrawal of services in protest against the suspension of the hospital's Chief Executive Officer, deepening a dispute over the management of severe congestion at one of Ghana's largest referral hospitals.

The Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) said the industrial action would take effect from 06:00 GMT on Saturday, 6 June, following an emergency meeting convened after the Health Minister suspended the hospital's chief executive.

The suspension was linked to the hospital's decision earlier this week to temporarily halt emergency admissions because of overcrowding at its Accident and Emergency Centre.

In a notice to the hospital's Board Chairman, the association said the decision to restrict admissions was a necessary measure aimed at protecting patient safety amid what it described as unprecedented pressure on the facility.

According to KADA, hospital management introduced a series of interventions, including temporarily suspending new emergency admissions and coordinating referrals with nearby health facilities, to manage a department operating beyond its capacity.

The doctors said the measures were intended to prevent avoidable deaths and ensure the safe delivery of care during a period of extreme congestion.

They expressed concern that the hospital's leadership had been sanctioned for actions taken in what they described as the best interests of patients.

KADA described the suspension of the chief executive as unjustified and argued that punitive action would not address the longstanding challenges facing the hospital.

The association has outlined three conditions for ending the strike.

First, it is calling for the suspension of the chief executive to be reviewed and reversed.

Second, it wants the hospital's Board to establish clear guidelines for managing situations in which emergency departments exceed capacity, including protocols for patient overflow and circumstances under which admissions may be restricted in the interest of safety.

Third, the doctors are demanding timelines for the operationalisation of the Sewua Hospital and the Afari Military Hospital, as well as a plan for retooling KATH and other health facilities in the Ashanti Region.

KADA said KATH continues to serve as the principal tertiary referral centre for much of central and northern Ghana despite increasing patient numbers and significant infrastructure constraints.

"The current situation reflects longstanding systemic challenges that require urgent policy and infrastructure solutions rather than punitive action against healthcare leaders attempting to manage their consequences," the association said.

The doctors said their action was not intended to undermine healthcare delivery but to draw attention to concerns about patient safety, clinical governance, professional accountability and the long-term sustainability of services at the teaching hospital.

They have urged the hospital's Board, the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to engage urgently to resolve the dispute and prevent further disruption to healthcare services.