Accra, Ghana – June 8, 2024 – Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, has appealed for calm and dialogue to resolve the ongoing impasse at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The call comes as an indefinite strike by KATH doctors and nurses disrupts vital healthcare services following the Health Minister’s two-week suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. (Med) Paa Kwesi Baidoo. Dr. Nawaane stressed that ordinary Ghanaians are bearing the brunt of this dispute, urging all parties to prioritize patient welfare.
Context of the Dispute
The disruption at KATH began following the suspension of CEO Dr. Baidoo by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. While the specific reasons for the suspension were not detailed in the immediate reports, the action triggered an immediate industrial response from the hospital’s medical and nursing staff. This has led to a complete halt in services, affecting thousands of patients who rely on KATH as a primary referral center in the Ashanti Region and beyond.
Healthcare Services Halted
The indefinite strike by doctors and nurses at KATH has effectively shut down operations at one of Ghana’s largest and most crucial healthcare facilities. KATH serves as a major referral hospital, handling a significant volume of complex cases annually. The suspension of services means that patients requiring specialized care, emergency treatment, or routine consultations are being turned away or redirected, potentially leading to severe health consequences.
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