- Allied Health Professionals at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital suspend strike.
- They demand a director-level position for one of their own, not a medical doctor.
- They feel undervalued and treated as "second-class citizens".
- The group suspends action pending further talks, but remains resolute.
The Allied Health Professionals of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have temporarily suspended their industrial action, following a productive engagement with the National Labour Commission. The health professionals, comprising 23 different specialties, had threatened to embark on strike if their demands were not met by the Ministry of Health.
At the heart of their demands is the appointment of a member of their association to a director-level position, to oversee their affairs and break away from the leadership of medical doctors. The Allied Health Professionals feel that their skills and expertise are being undervalued, and that they are being treated as “second-class citizens” within the healthcare system.
Last week, the group served notice of their intention to strike, prompting the National Labour Commission to intervene and facilitate a meeting between the two parties. Following the meeting, the Allied Health Professionals agreed to suspend their industrial action, pending further negotiations with the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Francis Kwakye Antwi, President of the Korle-Bu chapter of the Allied Health Professionals, addressed journalists, stating that the group will no longer tolerate being marginalized. He emphasized that Allied Health Professionals will demand equal recognition and opportunities, adding that this will ultimately benefit the country by boosting their motivation to deliver high-quality patient care.
Dr. Antwi hinted that the group is determined to assert their rights and push for reforms that recognize their value within the healthcare system. The suspension of the industrial action provides a temporary reprieve, but the Allied Health Professionals remain resolute in their pursuit of greater recognition and autonomy.
