The Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA) says it will proceed with an industrial strike from May 4, 2026, after failed engagements with management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital over longstanding operational and policy concerns.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, April 30, Secretary of KODA, Dr Joojo Nyamekye-Baidoo, said the decision was taken as a last resort after repeated meetings and correspondence failed to produce solutions.
He explained that the main issue centres on the exclusion of Laboratory Physicians from the hospital’s Central Laboratory, a situation KODA said has disrupted both clinical service delivery and specialist medical training. He added that doctors have been denied access to the facility for years, with reports of threats contributing to their continued absence.
“Strike is the only option. I think we’ve engaged management enough, and I don’t think they have come back to us in good faith,” he lamented.
According to him, the arrangement has also created operational inconsistencies, as the hospital still relies on external laboratories, including the University of Ghana Medical School facility, for diagnostic services.
Dr. Nyamekye-Baidoo said the strike, expected to begin on May 4, will be rolled out in phases, starting with outpatient services and potentially extending to emergency and inpatient care if unresolved. He also noted that the action has the backing of the Ghana Medical Association.
Among the demands of KODA is the immediate reinstatement of Laboratory Physicians and trainees into the Central Laboratory, unrestricted access to clinical systems, and merit-based leadership of laboratory departments. It is also calling for independent validation of specialised test results and an investigation into alleged threats against its members.
In addition, the Association has rejected a proposed 24-hour specialist outpatient service policy, arguing that existing services already meet that need and warning that expansion without additional staffing could overstretch personnel and affect patient care.
