The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has maintained its industrial action at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), citing inconsistencies in a second statement issued by the Ministry of Health despite assurances received from the Ashanti Regional Minister.
Chairman of the Ashanti Regional GMA, Dr. Hammond Abeiku, said members of the association are awaiting the outcome of a crucial meeting between the KATH Board and the Minister of Health before deciding whether to vary or call off the strike.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi Mail, Dr. Abeiku disclosed that doctors had received positive assurances regarding some of the concerns that triggered the industrial action, including government commitments to complete stalled health infrastructure projects and develop clear operational guidelines for managing patient overflow situations.
According to him, the Ashanti Regional Minister had indicated that work would soon resume on the abandoned Afari and Sewua hospital projects following the release of government funds to contractors. Additional plans to operationalize other health facilities in the region were also discussed.
“We came to a very positive resolution because the Regional Minister stated that they were working on the issues concerning the Afari and Sewua hospitals. He also mentioned that government had released funds for contractors to return to site,” Dr. Abeiku said.
He added that the KATH Board had also assured doctors that guidelines would be developed to provide clarity on how hospital administrators should respond when the facility reaches full capacity.
However, the GMA’s planned deliberations on the assurances were disrupted by a subsequent statement from the Ministry of Health, which Dr. Abeiku said contained contradictions regarding disciplinary actions taken against KATH Chief Executive Officer, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah.
The strike was triggered by the suspension of Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo following his role in coordinating emergency referrals of patients to private hospitals during a severe congestion crisis at KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre.
Doctors have argued that the CEO’s actions were taken in the interest of patient safety after consultations involving senior health officials, medical directors, and hospital administrators across the Kumasi metropolis.
Dr. Abeiku maintained that the decision to redirect patients was not unilateral but was reached collectively during an emergency meeting attended by officials from the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, hospital management teams, and medical superintendents from various facilities.
He explained that the referral arrangement ensured that no patient was turned away but rather redirected to facilities with available capacity, thereby easing pressure on KATH’s overcrowded emergency department.
“The objective was to save lives. When the health system becomes overstretched, the accepted practice globally is to seek support from nearby facilities. That was exactly what happened,” he said.
According to the GMA chairman, the disciplinary measures imposed on the CEO have raised broader concerns among health professionals about whether hospital managers would be supported when making urgent decisions during emergencies.
“It’s not just about this particular case. It is about what hospital manager can confidently do in a crisis situation if they fear sanctions for taking decisions aimed at protecting patients,” he noted.
Doctors at KATH began the strike to protest what they describe as the unfair treatment of the hospital’s CEO and to demand the withdrawal of sanctions against him. The association has also raised concerns about persistent pressure on the facility due to delays in completing major hospital projects intended to decongest KATH and improve healthcare delivery in the Ashanti Region.
Despite the ongoing strike, Dr. Abeiku said doctors continue to provide care for admitted patients and emergency cases. However, Out-Patient Department (OPD) services remain suspended until further notice.
The GMA says it will review its position after the outcome of the meeting between the KATH Board and the Health Minister.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
