Doctors at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have withdrawn all services to the Out-Patient Department (OPD) following a protracted dispute involving personnel at the Central Laboratory at the facility.
The Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA), announced the strike and took effect today, Monday, May 4, 2026, with the group warning of a possible escalation if the situation remains unresolved.
A Sunday, May 3, 2026 statement issued by KODA said the move was necessitated by concerns over patient safety and the integrity of clinical decision-making processes.
“KODA withdraws all Out-Patient Services (OPD) from Monday, May 4, 2026. Escalation towards suspension of in-patient services will be communicated in due course,” the statement said.
According to the Association, their decision is based on a standoff to what it described as the unlawful restriction of access to the Central Laboratory by members of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, a development it said was interfering with clinical operations.
It is therefore demanding that all specialised laboratory results be reviewed and validated by qualified Laboratory Physicians before they are released for clinical use.
It is also calling for unrestricted access to laboratory systems and equipment for both clinical services and academic work, insisting that any limitations undermine the hospital’s operational efficiency.
KODA is also urging the facility’s management to investigate alleged threats against its members and make appropriate disciplinary and protective measures.
It also raised concerns over plans to introduce a 24-hour specialist outpatients services, which it says already exists with the hospital’s polyclinic.
The group maintained that the proposed policy could place additional strain on an already stretched system.
While acknowledging the disruption to patients, the Association defended its decision as necessary to safeguard standards within the country’s premier referral facility.
“We regret the inevitable inconvenience to our patients; however, this action is necessary to ensure patient safety and the long-term stability and professional standards of the hospital,” the statement added.
The development is expected to affect hundreds of patients who rely on outpatient services at the hospital, as stakeholders await intervention to resolve the impasse.
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