The Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has stepped in to avert an escalation of a strike by a section of doctors at the Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) over broken-down equipment.
The action by the doctors is already negatively impacting healthcare delivery in that section of the hospital.
Patients with referral cancer cases were turned away on Tuesday as the strike entered its second day, with the management of the facility struggling to find a solution.
From far and near, patients who turned up at the Oncology Department for cancer-related treatments could not access medical services.
A distraught and traumatised relative who came in with a patient from New Edubiase struggled to find an option as the sick relative battled the pain.
But responding to a question during a working visit in the Ashanti Region, Dr Okoe Boye said steps will be taken to address the concerns of the striking doctors.
“A few weeks ago, medical laboratory staff went on strike. We used the laid-down structures to resolve it. Today, as we speak, they’ve gone back to work; this was about a week or two ago. Conflicts or disagreements are part of human nature or institutions, and our job is to resolve them.
“All I will say is that we will continue to work to resolve this conflict. I heard the announcement today: I’ve not had a briefing on it yet, but my attitude is that every conflict or disagreement can be resolved; all we have to do is pay attention and work on it,” he stated.
