Tamale Teaching Hospital impasse: Patients stranded, consulting rooms empty as doctors continue strike
Patients at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have been left stranded following an indefinite strike declared by doctors over operational challenges and a recent altercation involving the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and a senior doctor at the facility.
When the Daily Graphic visited the facility, scores of patients were seen waiting helplessly with no doctors in sight to attend to them.
Only nurses and other ancillary staff were at post attending to basic cases.
All patients who had arrived early for medical attention, particularly those requiring specialist care, met empty consulting rooms.
A female patient, who pleaded anonymity, said “Since morning, not a single doctor has attended to patients. We are being looked after only by nurses but some of us need urgent specialist care".
She added that the strike had placed patients with chronic and urgent medical needs at serious risk, urging both parties to resolve their grievances promptly.
She, therefore, appealed to authorities to intervene and resolve the impasse for a full resumption of health care.
The Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) last Wednesday night declared an indefinite suspension of emergency and outpatient services with immediate effect.
In a statement, the association announced that all doctors had withdrawn their services from general outpatient departments (OPD), antenatal clinics, specialist clinics and paediatric OPD.
However, inpatient care would continue until all admitted patients are safely discharged.
The action followed a confrontation that ensued between the Health Minister and the Head of the Accident and Emergency Department, Dr Valentine Akwulpwa, during his unannounced visit to the facility on Tuesday.
The visit was to assess the state of the facility and also have first-hand information about the alleged negligence of staff that resulted in the death of a patient some weeks ago.
