ARCC seeks urgent resolution as KATH strike disrupts healthcare services
The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) has intensified efforts to end the ongoing industrial action at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), warning that prolonged disruptions could place additional pressure on healthcare services and negatively affect thousands of patients who depend on the facility.
The Council has appealed to doctors, nurses and other health professionals who have withdrawn their services to reconsider their decision and resume work while discussions aimed at resolving the impasse continue.
According to the ARCC, restoring normal operations at the country’s second-largest referral hospital remains a priority, particularly as the strike threatens access to specialist medical care for residents across the Ashanti Region and beyond.
The Council said engagements have already been held with union representatives and other stakeholders, with ongoing consultations involving the Ministry of Health to find a lasting solution to the dispute.
Authorities believe dialogue remains the most effective path to easing tensions and rebuilding confidence among healthcare workers while ensuring uninterrupted care for patients.
To minimise the impact of the strike, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has been tasked with coordinating the transfer of stable patients from KATH to other health facilities across the region. Officials say the temporary arrangement is intended to reduce congestion and guarantee continued treatment for affected patients.
The industrial action stems from concerns raised by doctors and nurses over the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer. Health workers maintain that the decision was unfair, arguing that management acted appropriately during a recent emergency department congestion crisis by temporarily limiting new admissions in order to protect patient safety.
Despite acknowledging the concerns of the unions, the ARCC has urged all parties to place the welfare of patients at the centre of ongoing discussions and avoid a prolonged standoff.
The Council also reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the Ashanti Region, citing ongoing work on several key health projects, including the Sewua, Afari, Oforikrom and Trede hospitals.
It further indicated that development works on the KATH laboratory facility continue to progress, forming part of broader efforts to improve healthcare delivery and expand access to specialist medical services.
While expressing optimism that a resolution can be reached within a short period, the ARCC stressed that cooperation from all stakeholders will be essential to restoring full services and ensuring patients do not bear the consequences of the dispute.
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