Public sector nurses strike cripples healthcare delivery

An ongoing strike by public sector nurses is taking a toll on healthcare delivery in the country, with some major hospitals struggling to provide basic services as some of the wards have been deserted.

A visit by the Daily Graphic to three major health facilities in Accra — Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), and the Adabraka Polyclinic — revealed the extent of disruption caused by the strike which started yesterday.

Reports from other regions also indicates that major health facilities in those areas had been affected by the industrial action.

At Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the usually busy Outpatient Department (OPD) was a shadow of itself.

Many patients, some visibly distressed, sat waiting for hours without being attended to, while others, out of frustration and lack of assistance, left the facility.

There was a noticeable absence of nurses in the hospital’s wards and consultation rooms.

Only emergency cases and those already on admission were being attended to by some doctors and volunteers.

One of the frustrated patients, who declined to give her name, said: “I have been here with my mother since morning, but no one has called us. We have not seen any nurses. How can a whole hospital operate like this?”

Ridge Hospital

At Ridge Hospital, the facility appeared to be slightly active, however, healthcare delivery was still significantly hampered due to the reduced number of nurses on duty.

Some departments, including maternal care and general OPD services, had long queues and visibly frustrated patients.

At Adabraka Polyclinic, the situation was quite different.

Though the nurses’ strike had affected operations there, the facility appeared to be more active.

The administrator of the Polyclinic, Yakubu Amidu, said they were doing everything possible to attend to patients despite the challenges.

“We are definitely affected by the strike, but we are trying our best to provide care to all who come here.

“Our doctors and a few staff members have stepped up efforts to handle as many cases as we can,” he said.

Mr Amidu, however, said that while emergency and priority cases were being attended to promptly, the facility was still grappling with the absence of a full nursing staff, which remains critical to efficient healthcare delivery.

Strike background

The strike, initiated by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), stems from grievances over delayed conditions of service negotiations and the government’s failure to address key welfare concerns raised by the nurses and midwives.

The GRNMA has accused the Ministry of Health and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) of failing to honour promises made to them, such as allowances, accommodation issues and workload.

The Ministry of Health has since appealed to the nurses to return to work while negotiations continue, cautioning that the ongoing industrial action threatens to collapse the already overburdened public healthcare system.

However, as of yesterday, there were no signs of the strike being called off.