TTH: Patients stranded; consulting rooms empty as doctors begin strike

There have been frustration and confusion at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) in the early hours of today Thursday, April 24, 2025, as patients who had arrived early for medical attention were met with empty consulting rooms.

Doctors at Temale Teaching Hospital on April 23, suspended emergency and outpatient services indefinitely, citing “unwarranted attacks” from the Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini.

This decision was made during an emergency general assembly meeting of the Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH).

It came just hours after an earlier statement from the group condemning an incident during the minister’s visit to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit on Tuesday, April 22.

The Association announced that, “All members of Doctors Association of The Tamale Teaching Hospital have proceeded on an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services. Generally, OPD, Antenatal clinic, Specialist clinic and Paediatrics OPD”.

Adding that, “If basic healthcare needs continue to be ignored while health workers are blamed for poor outcomes, we will advise ourselves”

During a visit by the media, on Thursday, April 24, scenes from the hospital showed consulting rooms remain empty, while queues of patients waiting in emergency and outpatient department heightens, with no doctors or medical personnel in sight.

This strike is not considered lightly, as it reflects ingrained frustrations over the attack by the health minister to the working conditions, and systemic neglect by the Hospital lately.
While the immediate impact is felt by patients, the long-term consequences can affect the entire healthcare system in the region.

We plead on the government to take swift action and implement meaningful reforms to help resolve this issue. At the same time, doctors must balance their demands with their ethical duty to patients. Lasting solutions lie in mutual respect, fair negotiation, and a shared commitment to improving healthcare.