KATH Oncology department staff strike over broken equipment

Management of the Oncology department at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ashanti region, has announced an indefinite strike, effective Monday, June 24, 2024.

The strike has left numerous patients who traveled from far and near for treatment at the referral facility stranded.

The staff of the oncology department cited the lack of management commitment to repairing or replacing broken equipment as the reason for the strike.

However, according to Kwame Frimpong, the Public Relations Director of the facility, management has procured new equipment to retool the department, which is expected to arrive by the end of the week.

He expressed surprise at the strike, as management had kept the oncology department informed of the measures being taken to create a conducive working environment for effective healthcare delivery.

Management of the Board of the Hospital are currently in a board meeting and are expected to meet leadership of the striking doctors after the meeting.

However, a member of the striking doctors who spoke with Ghone News on condition of Anonymity said ”we are tired of promises, our weak equipment have broken down for several years making our working very difficult. Present and past management have not helped matters in fixing the problem that’s why we are on strike. We are taking care of patients on admission we are not admitting news cases.”

He explained “let me put this one on record, the entire Komfo anokye Teaching Hospital is working. Every department is very active and busy providing medical treatments to patients. It’s only the Oncology department that is not working. The general public must take note of that.”

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is the second premier referral teaching hospital in Ghana. It delivers healthcare to persons in 12 regions across the country including other neighboring countries such as Bukina Faso, Mali among others.