The Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) has announced an indefinite strike, effective immediately.
This decision was communicated in a press release issued late on April 23, 2025.
“Following our earlier communication today, the Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital convened an emergency general assembly at 12:00 PM. As a result of this meeting, all members of DATTH have unanimously decided to embark on an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services, including the General OPD, Antenatal Clinic, Specialist Clinic, and Paediatrics OPD,” the statement read.
Copies of the release were sent to the Minister of Health, the Northern Regional Minister, and the President of the Ghana Medical Association.
The association clarified that inpatients currently admitted will continue to receive care until they are safely discharged.
Demands of DATTH
The leadership of DATTH outlined specific conditions that must be met before services resume:
1. Unqualified apologies must be rendered by the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency, Hon. Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini. These should be directed to Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, all doctors at TTH, and staff of the Accident and Emergency Department.
2. Emergency and outpatient services will only resume upon receipt of the appropriate apologies.
3. Short-Term Requirements for Effective Clinical Work
a). Continuous supply of running water for clinical use
b). Stable electricity throughout the hospital
c). Constant availability of medical oxygen
d). Adequate supply of medical consumables (e.g., gloves, gauze, masks, cannulas, sutures, syringes, disinfectants, glucometer strips, plasters, etc.)
e). Uninterrupted supply of laboratory reagents
f). 100 continuous vital signs monitoring devices for all high-dependency units
Ventilators as follows:
4 at Accident & Emergency Department
4 at Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
2 at Pediatric Emergency Ward
2 at Neonatal ICU
2 at Maternal ICU
2 transport ventilators
2 transport incubators at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department
Servicing and repair of the 1000L autoclave machines at CSSD
4. Medium-Term Requirements
a). An MRI machine that operates without helium
b). A CT scan machine equipped with an infusion pump
c). Mammography machine
d). Fluoroscopy machine
e). C-arm machine for the main theater
f). ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) analyzers in all ICUs and the A&E Department
g). Two mobile X-ray machines
5. Engagement with Management
DATTH will continue discussions with hospital management to ensure timely provision of all the items listed. Further decisions will be made if progress is not seen within a reasonable timeframe.
6. Safety of Members
Any member who feels unsafe while on duty is advised to immediately withdraw from the situation to protect their personal safety.
7. Media Accountability
Media houses that published false or biased reports regarding the incident during the Minister of Health’s April 22 visit to TTH must issue public apologies to DATTH.
The association will cease engagement with these media outlets until apologies are made.