Doctors resume work
Doctors in public hospitals resumed work yesterday following an end to their 24-day strike to demand coded conditions of service from the government.
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While some hospitals recorded high turnout of patients, others registered a low number of patients at the outpatient departments (OPDs).
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) started the strike on July 29, 2015 by withdrawing all OPD care.
The doctors moved the strike a step further by refusing to attend to emergency cases from August 7, 2015 when the government was unable to meet their demand.
On August 14, the GMA met and resolved to continue with the strike for two more weeks instead of the doctors resigning en bloc as they had earlier threatened to do.
However, a release by the association last Friday called on all members to resume work on Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. while they awaited further information from the leadership as and when it became necessary.
When the Daily Graphic visited the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), the Adabraka Polyclinic and the Ridge Hospital, all in Accra, yesterday, it was observed that although a number of patients had reported there for treatment, the usual queues normally present at the outpatient departments (OPDs) on Mondays were absent.
At the Adabraka and Ridge hospitals, officials said they resumed full OPD services at 8 a.m. yesterday.
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The Deputy Director of Health Services at the Adabraka Polyclinic, Mrs Marian Obeng-Addae, said the OPD although was functioning fully, patients did not turn out in their numbers as they normally did on Mondays.
The situation at the Ridge Hospital OPD was no different. An official at the facility said patients did not come in their numbers as was usually the case on Mondays.
The official said the doctors resumed full service in the morning and were taking care of all patients.
KBTH
The Maternity Unit of the KBTH was bustling with activities as patients had turned up in their numbers to seek care.
Some of the patients expressed their delight that the doctors had resumed work.
Mama Ataa said she brought her sister to the hospital at around 10 a.m. and as of 11:30 a.m. she had been called to see the doctor.
At the Department of Surgery, officials said work began as early as 6 a.m. with doctors on duty taking care of in-patients.
As of 11:30 a.m., the officials said more than 200 of the OPD cases had been attended to.
At the Accident Unit of the hospital, it was observed that doctors and nurses were busy taking care of cases that had been brought in.
The Medical Emergency Unit was also busy when the Daily Graphic visited the place.
Kumasi
At the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Daniel Kenu reports that the OPD, which hitherto was always flooded with patients, was not as brisk as it used to.
The Accident and Emergency Centre was virtually disserted, except for a few cases.
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From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that patients thanked the doctors for resuming work and asked the government to ensure that the issue that caused the strike was resolved.
At the Out-Patient Department of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, patients were being attended to.
Dr D.G. Demanya, Medical Officer in-charge, said all the doctors were on duty.
Tema
A visit to the Tema General Hospital on Monday morning revealed that the various units including the OPD, emergency and other units were busy, reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.
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Benches at the OPD which were overturned during the three-week strike action were all occupied by clients who had queued to see doctors.
At the time of the Daily Graphic's visit, the Medical Director of the facility, Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, was holding a meeting with the doctors to brief them on the negotiations so far and the way forward.
Speaking to this reporter after the meeting, Dr Opoku-Adusei, who is also the President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), explained that the session was necessary to keep members updated on developments so far.
The OPD of the Wa Regional Hospital, according to Michael Quaye, was buzzing with activities with a high outpatient turnout
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A nursing mother, Madam Naffisa Ibrahim, told the Daily Graphic that she had no alternative in terms of proximity and accessibility but to visit the regional hospital.
From Tamale, Zadok Kwame Gyesi reports that many patients were seen at the OPD of public health facilities waiting to be attended to.
At the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), for instance, many patients had queued on benches in front of the various consulting rooms waiting for their turn.
The Administrator of the Hospital, Mr Jeremiah Tiimob, said “we are all happy that all the hospitals in town are now back to normalcy because there was pressure on us during the strike action”.
He said although the doctors were on strike, the hospital provided some services to its patients.
A patient, Ms Halema Osman, thanked the doctors for listening to the pleas of the poor to resume work.
Bolgatanga
A visit to the various units of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital and interactions with some health personnel and patients proved that health activities were ongoing successfully, reports Vincent Amenuveve.
A woman, Madam Zulfawu Yussif, who had brought her mother to the maternity ward for medical attention,expressed joy that the doctors were attending to patients, including her mother.
A midwife at the Maternity Block (name withheld) conducted this reporter round to see doctors busy at work.