By: Francis Abedi
Medical care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi has come to a standstill after doctors declared an indefinite strike following the suspension of the hospital’s CEO, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, by the Ministry of Health.
The strike has left patients stranded, with wards, emergency units, and outpatient departments operating without attending doctors. Patients seeking consultations, surgeries, and admissions have been turned away, while some relatives of critically ill patients were seen lying on floors and benches, hoping for medical attention.
One distressed mother shared her ordeal:
“I came here with my daughter since morning hoping to see a doctor, only to be told that the doctors are on strike. My daughter is very sick and has been left to her fate.”
Another patient pleaded: “I want to appeal to the government to meet the doctors’ demands so they can attend to us. We are really suffering here.”
The Ministry of Health explained that Dr. Baidoo was suspended over his directive to halt emergency admissions at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, an action, the ministry says was contrary to directives from the President.
Doctors at KATH are protesting the suspension and are demanding the reinstatement of the CEO before resuming duties.
