KATH Doctors Declare Indefinite Strike Over CEO Suspension and Hospital Overcrowding

Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have announced an indefinite withdrawal of services beginning Saturday, June 6, 2026, in protest against the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer and what they describe as longstanding systemic challenges affecting patient care.

The decision was reached during an emergency meeting of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) on Friday, June 5, following recent developments surrounding the hospital’s management and operations.

In a notice of industrial action addressed to the Chairman of the KATH Board, the doctors expressed concern over the suspension of the CEO, arguing that measures taken by management to address severe congestion at the hospital’s Emergency Department were aimed at protecting patient safety rather than warranting disciplinary action.

According to KADA, the temporary suspension of new emergency admissions and the coordination of patient referrals to surrounding health facilities were necessary interventions to prevent avoidable deaths and ensure safe healthcare delivery amid overwhelming capacity constraints.

The association noted that KATH, which serves as a major referral centre for the middle and northern sectors of Ghana, continues to operate under significant infrastructure limitations despite a growing patient population.

The doctors criticized the decision to suspend the CEO, describing it as unjustified and counterproductive to efforts aimed at addressing the hospital’s underlying challenges.

As part of their resolutions, the doctors have demanded a review and reversal of the CEO’s suspension. They are also calling on the hospital’s Board to establish clear policies for managing situations where emergency capacity is exceeded, including guidelines on patient overflow and admission restrictions in the interest of patient safety.

Additionally, KADA is urging the Ministry of Health to provide timelines for the operationalisation of Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, as well as the retooling of KATH and other hospitals within the Ashanti Region to ease pressure on the facility.

The association stated that the industrial action is intended to draw national attention to concerns over patient and caregiver safety, clinical governance, professional accountability, and the long-term sustainability of healthcare services at the country’s second-largest teaching hospital.

KADA further called on the KATH Board to engage the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to find an amicable resolution and prevent further disruption to healthcare delivery.

Despite the strike action, the doctors reaffirmed their commitment to providing safe, ethical, and evidence-based healthcare and stressed the need for sustainable solutions to the persistent overcrowding challenges facing the hospital.