• Metascholar News Portal
• Health , Local News , News
• April 24, 2025
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• 3 minutes Read

Doctors Suspend Emergency and Outpatient Care at Tamale Teaching Hospital

Doctors at Tamale Teaching Hospital Suspend Emergency and Outpatient Services Over Ministerial Misconduct and Resource Challenges Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have announced the indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services in response to what they describe as “unwarranted attacks” by Ghana’s Health Minister, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini. This decision, which marks a significant escalation in tensions between medical professionals and government officials, was reached during an emergency general assembly convened by the Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) on Wednesday, April 23. The suspension follows an incident that occurred during the Health Minister’s visit to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit on Tuesday, April 22. According to DATTH, the conduct of both the Minister and the MP during the visit was disrespectful and undermined the professionalism of medical staff. In a strongly worded statement issued shortly before the decision to suspend services, DATTH condemned the incident, describing it as a direct affront to healthcare workers operating under already strenuous conditions. Effective immediately, all emergency and outpatient services including the General Outpatient Department (OPD), Antenatal Clinic, Specialist Clinic, and Paediatrics OPD have been halted. However, DATTH clarified that inpatient care would continue, ensuring that admitted patients receive the necessary attention until they are safely discharged. Central to the doctors’ demands is an unconditional public apology from both Hon. Akandoh and Hon. Suhuyini. The association insists that apologies must be directed not only to Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, who was reportedly singled out during the altercation, but also to all medical personnel at TTH, particularly those stationed at the Accident and Emergency Department. DATTH has made it clear that emergency and outpatient services will only resume upon receipt of what they deem to be “appropriate and sincere” apologies. Beyond addressing issues of professional respect and workplace dignity, DATTH has used this opportunity to highlight critical logistical and infrastructural deficiencies plaguing the hospital. In a comprehensive list submitted to hospital management, the doctors outlined immediate needs such as reliable water supply, stable electricity, continuous oxygen availability, and basic clinical consumables, including gloves, gauze, syringes, cannulae, face masks, and disinfectants. They stressed that the absence of these essentials severely hampers their ability to provide quality care. The association also pointed to the chronic shortage of laboratory reagents, malfunctioning medical equipment, and the urgent requirement for vital tools such as ventilators, transport incubators, and functioning autoclave machines. For sustainable…