The Korle-Bu Doctors Association has warned it will launch an industrial action at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from 2 May, 2026, if key demands on laboratory management and planned outpatient reforms remain unresolved by Thursday, 30 April, 2026.
In an official letter, the Association said members will down tools if management does not urgently tackle what it calls “grave risks” to patient care and professional norms, especially the sidelining of Laboratory Physicians from the hospital’s Central Lab and the proposed launch of 24-hour specialist outpatient care.
Regarding the Central Laboratory standoff, KODA accused Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists members of illegally blocking entry to the unit and seeking to dictate who may practice there.
The Association described the development as unacceptable, pointing to accounts that Laboratory Physicians have been barred from duty and, in some instances, intimidated.
KODA further demanded the immediate return of all Laboratory Physicians and resident doctors to the Central Laboratory by 30 April.
It also insisted that heads of lab departments must be chosen solely on professional competence and institutional standards, without interference from unions or groups.
The body further wants all specialist lab reports checked and approved by qualified Laboratory Physicians before release, plus full access to lab systems and tools for clinical and academic tasks.
Moreover, the Association seeks a thorough probe into alleged threats against its members, pressing management to apply disciplinary and safety steps where needed to protect staff and ensure smooth operations.
On policy, KODA firmly rejected the planned roll-out of 24-hour specialist outpatient services, noting the hospital already runs a 24-hour OPD via the Korle-Bu Polyclinic.
It argued that extending similar services hospital-wide without clear policy, staffing, and funding plans risks overburdening current workers and weakening patient care.
“KODA reminds Management that the 24-Hour Economy Policy of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, which seems to guide this directive, envisages hiring extra staff for afternoon and night shifts, not lengthening work hours for the same personnel.
“The present implementation plan does not seem to capture this difference,” the statement noted.
The association again asked for the 24-hour OPD order to be withdrawn until a detailed policy paper is drafted and wider talks held with clinical units.It further urged management to focus on boosting efficiency in current outpatient services as a quicker remedy.
They cautioned that missing the deadline will prompt a total service withdrawal from 2 May, a step they say aims to secure patient safety, defend professional standards, and sustain the hospital’s long-term operations.
