Tamale Teaching Hospital doctors begin indefinite strike over minister’s conduct
The group is demanding unqualified apologies from the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, over comments and actions they describe as disrespectful to their colleague doctor Valentine Akwulpwa
Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Northern Ghana have declared an indefinite strike, suspending emergency and outpatient services with immediate effect.
In a statement issued late on Tuesday, the Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) said the decision followed an emergency general assembly meeting held earlier in the day.
“Inpatient care shall continue for our clients currently on admission until they are safely discharged from the hospital,” the statement said.
The group is demanding unqualified apologies from the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, over comments and actions they describe as disrespectful to their colleague Valentine Akwulpwa and the hospital staff.
The row follows the minister’s visit to the hospital on Monday, when he reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with standards of care following the death of a patient.
The doctors say they will only resume full services once appropriate apologies are issued and a list of urgent clinical supplies and equipment is delivered.
The demands include consistent water and electricity supply, oxygen, gloves, lab reagents and vital sign monitors, together with a range of critical care machines such as ventilators and transport incubators.
For the medium term, they are also requesting an MRI scanner, a mammography machine, CT and fluoroscopy units and other advanced diagnostic tools.
The association further accused certain media outlets of biased reporting during the minister’s visit and insisted that these organisations issue public apologies before the doctors will engage any further.
DATTH has warned it will escalate its actions if members’ safety is threatened or if their demands are not met in a timely manner. Management of the hospital and the Ministry of Health are yet to respond publicly.
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