Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have announced an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services, effective immediately, citing a “hostile working environment,” chronic shortages of basic medical supplies, and perceived insults to their dignity by government officials. The decision, declared on Tuesday, 22 April, 2025 following an emergency general assembly meeting, marks an escalation in tensions between healthcare workers and authorities.
In a statement released by the Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH), the suspension affects the General Outpatient Department (OPD), Antenatal Clinic, Specialist Clinic, and Pediatrics OPD. However, inpatient care will continue for currently admitted patients until their discharge.
The move comes in response to a contentious visit by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to the hospital on April 22, which the doctors claim was followed by “false and biased reportage” from media outlets. The association demands “unqualified apologies” from both the Health Minister and Tamale North MP Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, directed at Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, the medical staff, and the Accident and Emergency Department team.
While the call for apologies ignited the protest, the doctors’ reveal deeper systemic issues.
They have highlighted severe infrastructure and resource deficits that hinder effective medical care:
- Constant water and electricity supply
- Steady provision of critical medical consumables
- Essential equipment such as ventilators, vital signs monitors, and sterilization equipment
- High-tech diagnostic and treatment tools, including MRI and CT scan machines
The doctors have warned that failure to meet these demands within the shortest possible time will lead to further action. They are also demanding public retractions and apologies from media houses that carried what they describe as “false and biased reportage” of the incident.
The suspension underscores a breaking point for healthcare workers at TTH, who grapple with deteriorating conditions amid rising patient demands. With emergency services halted, the decision risks exacerbating public health challenges in northern Ghana, where TTH serves as a critical referral center.
As tensions simmer, the ball now lies in the government’s court to address both immediate grievances and long-standing systemic gaps. For now, the hospital’s corridors remain a battleground for dignity, resources, and the future of healthcare delivery.
Source: Myjoyonline.
