Laboratory scientists at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have denied claims that they are on strike, insisting that laboratory services at the facility are still operating, although at a reduced capacity due to ongoing system audits.
The clarification follows public concerns over disruptions in laboratory services at the hospital amid tensions over the appointment of medical doctors to head laboratory departments.
Speaking in an interview with 3news Evelyn Tengmaa, the Korle Bu Local Chapter Chairman of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, John Kofi Nacojja, said the scientists were not on strike but had slowed operations to conduct internal audits following allegations that more than 50 percent of laboratory results issued by the hospital were inaccurate.
According to him, the audits became necessary after comments allegedly made by a medical doctor questioned the credibility of test results from the hospital’s laboratories.
“We are not on strike,” he stressed. “The laboratory practice is a science on its own. We are doing system audits because allegations were made that more than 50 percent of our results are wrong. As accredited laboratories, we are mandated by international standards to investigate such claims.”
Mr. Nacojja explained that laboratory operations have been slowed because some machines have been temporarily shut down for verification and auditing purposes, while others continue to provide partial services.
He said the laboratory scientists are complying with international accreditation protocols under the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation and ISO standards.
“At least one machine must remain operational while another undergoes system audits. We cannot shut down everything at the same time because patients still depend on us,” he noted.
He revealed that attendance at the central laboratory has dropped significantly since the allegations emerged.
“On a normal busy Monday, we receive over 100 samples, but after the statement was made, we could barely cross 50. Patients and relatives are calling to ask whether they can still trust our services,” he said.
The dispute also centers on the appointment of medical doctors to head laboratory departments, a move the laboratory scientists strongly oppose.
Mr. Nacojja argued that under Ghana’s health regulations, medical laboratories are supposed to be headed by qualified medical laboratory scientists regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council, not medical doctors.
He accused management and members of the medical college of attempting to take over laboratory administration to secure accreditation for specialist medical training programmes.
“The medical college is different from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital,” he stated. “Doctors who want to train specialists should collaborate with laboratory scientists, not take over leadership of the laboratories.”
According to him, the revocation of the appointment of a laboratory scientist who was serving as head of department triggered growing anger among staff.
He further alleged that laboratory scientists are not adequately represented within the hospital’s management structure.
“Our voice is carried by people who have interests in the laboratory because they are lecturers in the medical college,” he claimed.
Despite the ongoing tensions, Mr. Nacojja maintained that scientists have not abandoned patients.
He said emergency and critical units, including the blood bank, nephrology laboratory and the cardiothoracic laboratory, are still operating, although under pressure due to limited staff availability and ongoing verification processes.
“We are not denying the public services,” he emphasized. “The laboratories are open, and scientists are working. What we are withdrawing is our expertise in areas where system audits are ongoing.”
The developments have sparked public concern over the impact of professional and administrative disputes on healthcare delivery, especially at Ghana’s premier referral hospital.
Many patients at Korle Bu continue to face delays and uncertainty as management and laboratory scientists work to resolve the impasse.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
