Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital have suspended all emergency and outpatient services indefinitely. This follows the dismissal of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer after an altercation with the health minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
Doctors Demand Apology and Immediate Resources
In a statement, the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital convened an emergency General Assembly meeting at midday. The outcome of the meeting was an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services.
Doctors emphasized that specialist clinics, antenatal services, pediatrics, and inpatient care will continue only for patients currently admitted until they are safely discharged.
The group is demanding an unqualified apology from Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Tamale North MP Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini. They insist the apology must be rendered to Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, all doctors of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, and staff of the Accident and Emergency Department.
They said they will only resume provision of emergency and outpatient services after they receive appropriate apologies.
Equipment and Infrastructure Among Key Demands
The doctors also outlined urgent infrastructural and equipment needs required to resume full services at Tamale Teaching Hospital. These include:
- Constant flow of water and stable electricity.
- Continuous supply of oxygen.
- Medical consumables such as gloves, syringes, gauze, masks, and disinfectants.
They also demand critical care equipment:
- 100 continuous vital sign monitors for high dependency units.
- 12 ventilators distributed across the Accident & Emergency, Intensive Care, Neonatal, and Maternal Intensive Care Units.
- Two transport incubators for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.
- Repair of a 1,000-litre autoclave machine at the Central Sterile Services Department.
In the medium term, the doctors want:
- An MRI scan machine not requiring helium.
- A CT scan machine with an infusion pump.
- A mammography unit and fluoroscopy machine.
- A CR machine at the main theatre.
- ABG machines in all ICUs and the Accident & Emergency Department.
- Two mobile x-ray machines.
They caution that failure to meet these demands could lead to further withdrawal of services.
Health Minister’s response
The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in addressing the media, says his appeal is to the doctors at the hospital to call off the strike and strategize going forward. He said “I am prepared for us to come around the table.” He said it is not sustainable for the government to keep donating equipment, and when the equipment is obsolete, the hospitals run back to the government.
He urged that they work together for the betterment of the health sector.
While the CEO has been dismissed, it is unclear whether a replacement has officially resumed duty. Many patients continue to wait, hoping for a resolution. For now, Tamale Teaching Hospital remains a critical referral center without emergency and outpatient services.
