KATH doctors narrate how health ministry statement almost disrupted strike resolution deal
The President of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA), Dr Michael Leat, has said doctors were on the verge of reaching an agreement to end the ongoing strike at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after a meeting with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, but a subsequent statement from the Ministry of Health derailed the progress.
He explained that discussions with the Regional Minister had been largely positive, with indications that the industrial action could soon be called off. However, he said the atmosphere changed after the Ministry of Health issued a public statement defending the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
The Ministry, in its statement issued on Sunday, June 7, described the strike action by doctors and nurses as “unfortunate” and maintained that the CEO’s suspension was a necessary administrative step taken in the interest of accountability, patient safety and adherence to established health sector procedures.
Dr Leat told Citi News that the timing and content of the statement triggered anger among striking members and disrupted what had been a constructive engagement.
“The strike was a decision taken by a group and so we presented it to them and in the course of our discussion to see the next step, we saw a release from the Minister for Health which threw off the discussion. In fact people were angry and we had to end the meeting. As it stands, we are still on strike. We will still be taking steps to make sure we go back to our people, talk to them through more discussions and see how best we come out positively,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Frank Amoakohene had earlier indicated that a positive resolution had been reached during a crunch meeting with leaders of doctors, nurses and midwives at KATH aimed at getting them to call off the strike. The meeting, held on Sunday, June 7, brought together representatives of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association, the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association, and nursing and midwifery leadership in an effort to resolve the impasse that has disrupted healthcare delivery at the facility.
The strike began on Saturday, June 6, following the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, after a directive to temporarily halt new admissions at the Accident and Emergency Unit due to congestion. The action was later joined by the KATH chapter of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), escalating the standoff and significantly affecting services at one of the country’s busiest referral hospitals.