Doctors at the Oncology Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have called off their strike following a meeting with the hospital’s management.
The strike, which began on 24 June, was in protest against delays in repairing a critical piece of equipment, the Linear Accelerator System, which has been out of service since October 2023.
Details
The chief executive officer of KATH, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah said, “Around October our linear accelerator broke down, and there was a need for us to fix it. However, we faced financial challenges in covering the US$210,000 annual Preventive Maintenance Plan (PPM) cost.”
He further detailed how the hospital initially sought support from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, which promised to cover the first year’s cost. However, upon recalculating their finances, the hospital determined it could afford the US$210,000 annual payment for the next five years, leading to the signing of an MoU for the repair of the machine.
Despite the repair, the machine remained non-functional due to the need for a water phantom, necessary for calibration. “Our engineers tried very hard and realised we needed to buy another one. The cost is US$109,000,” the CEO added.
The frustration over these delays led nine oncologists to issue an ultimatum, threatening to cease patient consultations if the machine was not operational by 24 June. The strike severely impacted radiotherapy services, although chemotherapy services continued.
Earlier warnings
Management, recognising the urgency, engaged with the doctors.
“I had issued a letter to them individually that by 8am today, given the proof of management’s efforts, if they were not at work, they would be suspended indefinitely,” Professor Addai-Mensah stated.
Following a productive meeting on Wednesday (26 June), the doctors agreed to return to work, reassured by management’s commitment to resolving the situation.
These developments were confirmed during a visit by Health Minister Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, who is on a three-day tour of the Ashanti region to inspect various health facilities. The Minister pledged to support the hospital in its operations.
Reporting By Bright Yeboah, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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