The Korle-Bu Doctors Association has warned that it will embark on an industrial strike at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital starting May 2 if its concerns over laboratory operations and proposed outpatient service reforms are not resolved by the end of Thursday, April 30, 2026.
In a formal notice, the Association said its members would withdraw their services if hospital management fails to urgently address what it described as serious risks to patient safety and professional standards. These concerns include the exclusion of Laboratory Physicians from the hospital’s Central Laboratory and plans to introduce 24-hour specialist outpatient services.
Regarding the Central Laboratory dispute, KODA accused the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of improperly limiting access to the facility and attempting to control who is allowed to practise there. The group described the situation as unacceptable, citing reports that Laboratory Physicians have been denied access to work and, in some cases, subjected to threats.
The Association is demanding the immediate reinstatement of all Laboratory Physicians and trainee doctors into the Central Laboratory by April 30. It also insists that leadership roles within laboratory departments should be determined strictly by professional qualifications and institutional guidelines, without interference from unions or external groups.
KODA further called for all specialised laboratory results to be reviewed and validated by qualified Laboratory Physicians before being released. It also wants unrestricted access to laboratory systems and equipment for both clinical and academic purposes.
Additionally, the Association is urging management to investigate reported threats against its members and take appropriate disciplinary and protective actions to ensure staff safety and maintain the hospital’s operational integrity.
On policy matters, KODA strongly opposed the proposed rollout of 24-hour specialist outpatient services, arguing that the hospital already provides round-the-clock outpatient care through its polyclinic. It warned that extending similar services across all departments without clear policies, adequate staffing, and sufficient funding could overburden personnel and negatively affect patient care.
The group referenced the 24-hour economy policy of John Dramani Mahama, noting that the policy envisions recruiting additional staff for extended shifts rather than increasing the workload of existing employees. According to KODA, the current plan does not reflect this approach.
The Association has therefore called for the withdrawal of the 24-hour outpatient directive until a comprehensive policy is developed in consultation with clinical departments. It also urged management to focus on improving efficiency within existing outpatient services as a more immediate solution.
KODA warned that failure to meet its demands by the stated deadline would result in a full withdrawal of services from May 2, a move it says is necessary to protect patient safety, uphold professional standards, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the hospital.
Source: citinews
