Doctors of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) strike continue to draw national attention, with key stakeholders urging restraint and renewed dialogue to protect patient care.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day programme, , Member of Parliament for Lambussie and a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, attributed the situation partly to a breakdown in communication and institutional protocol.
According to him, the handling of decisions leading to the shutdown of certain services at the hospital did not follow established governance procedures. He stressed that public health facilities are state-owned and ultimately held in trust by the President through the Minister for Health.
“If any section of such a facility must be shut down, it requires approval at the highest level because individuals do not own these institutions,” he explained.
Prof. Beyuo defended the Minister for Health’s decision to suspend the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), insisting the move was justified and rooted in governance principles. He noted that the CEO’s actions were in breach of a presidential directive, making the minister’s intervention necessary.
While acknowledging the frustrations of doctors because their actions is a perfect clinical step, he cautioned that the strike action could have unintended consequences on patients, urging the doctors to reconsider their position.
“I want to appeal to the doctors to call off the strike. It was never their intention for patients to suffer,” he said.
However, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), offered a contrasting perspective, calling for a review of the minister’s decision.
Dr. Afriyie acknowledged Prof. Beyuo’s position but stated the unique healthcare challenges in the Ashanti and northern parts of Ghana. He pointed out that, unlike Accra where multiple healthcare options exist, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital serves as a critical referral centre for a vast population with no alternatives.
He further highlighted systemic challenges, including the lack of a fully functional regional hospital in the Ashanti Region, staffing shortages, and inadequate recruitment of health professionals.
According to him, recruitment agencies who recruit workers for outside countries, focused on certain categories of nurses, creating gaps in specialized care. He also called on teaching hospitals to intensify the training of specialist nurses to address the deficit.
Dr. Afriyie appealed to the government to complete and operationalize additional healthcare facilities to ease pressure on KATH and improve emergency response capacity.
On the issue of the suspended CEO, he urged the Minister for Health to reconsider the decision, suggesting that the CEO may have learned from the incident.
Strike
The Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) withdrew its services to register their displeasure about the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
