KATH OPD Deserted, Patients Bear Brunt Of Ongoing Strike
Hundreds of patients seeking medical care at the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi have been left stranded as a strike by doctors and other health professionals entered its fourth day on Tuesday.
The industrial action has virtually brought outpatient services at the facility to a standstill, forcing patients to either return home untreated or seek care at private health facilities at extra cost.
A visit to the hospital on Tuesday morning revealed an unusually quiet OPD, with consulting rooms locked, nurses inactive and waiting areas nearly empty. The scene was a sharp contrast to the normally busy facility, which serves hundreds of patients daily.
The strike was triggered by the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry announced a two-week suspension to allow for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the temporary closure of KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre.
According to the Ministry, the suspension is purely an administrative measure intended to ensure transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigations. It has therefore appealed to doctors, nurses and other health professionals at the hospital to return to work in the interest of patients.
However, medical staff at KATH have reportedly maintained their position, leading to continued disruption of healthcare services at one of the country’s largest referral hospitals.
Patients and their relatives expressed frustration over the situation, with many waiting for hours without receiving medical attention.
The impasse has been further complicated by the support of the Health Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC-Ghana), KATH branch, which has publicly backed the stance of the aggrieved health professionals.
The ongoing standoff has heightened concerns about access to healthcare in the Ashanti Region and beyond, as pressure mounts on hospital management, the Ministry of Health and the striking workers to find a lasting solution.
With no clear indication of when normal services will resume, patients continue to bear the brunt of the dispute while uncertainty hangs over healthcare delivery at the facility.
