The Korle-Bu Doctors Association has threatened to embark on an industrial strike at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from May 2 if a set of demands on laboratory operations and proposed outpatient service reforms are not addressed by the close of Thursday, April 30, 2026.
In a formal notice, the Association said its members will withdraw services if management fails to immediately address what it describes as “serious threats” to patient safety and professional standards, particularly the exclusion of Laboratory Physicians from the hospital’s Central Laboratory and the proposed rollout of 24-hour specialist outpatient services.
On the Central Laboratory dispute, KODA accused members of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of unlawfully restricting access to the facility and attempting to determine who is permitted to practise there.
The Association termed the situation unacceptable, citing reports that Laboratory Physicians have been prevented from working and, in some cases, threatened.
KODA further called for the swift reinstatement of all Laboratory Physicians and trainee doctors into the Central Laboratory by April 30.
It further insists that leadership of laboratory departments must be based strictly on professional merit and institutional criteria, free from pressure by unions or associations.
The group also wants all specialised laboratory results reviewed and validated by qualified Laboratory Physicians before release, alongside unrestricted access to laboratory systems and equipment for clinical and academic work.
Additionally, the Association is calling for a full investigation into alleged threats against its members, urging management to take disciplinary and protective measures where necessary to safeguard staff and maintain operational integrity.
On policy, KODA strongly opposed the proposed implementation of 24-hour specialist outpatient services, arguing that the hospital already operates a 24-hour outpatient facility through the Korle-Bu Polyclinic.
It maintained that extending similar services across all departments without clear policy, staffing, and funding frameworks risks overstretching existing personnel and compromising patient care.
“KODA draws Management’s attention to the fact that the 24-Hour Economy Policy of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, which appears to inform this directive, contemplates the engagement of additional personnel to cover afternoon and night shifts, not the extension of existing working hours for the same employees.
“The current implementation framework does not appear to reflect this distinction,” the statement added.
The association again requested the withdrawal of the 24-hour OPD directive, pending the development of a comprehensive policy document and broader consultation with clinical departments.
It further urged management to prioritise improving efficiency within existing outpatient services as a more immediate intervention.
They warned that failure to meet these conditions by the stated deadline will trigger a full withdrawal of services from May 2, a move it says is intended to protect patient safety, uphold professional standards, and preserve the long-term functionality of the hospital.
