Kumasi, May 4, GNA - The usual hustling and bustling associated with early morning scene at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi was totally absent on Monday morning, as the strike action by junior doctors of the hospital entered its fourth day. A visit to the polyclinic and the Out Patients Department (OPD) of the Hospital by the Ghana News Agency, revealed an unusually quite atmosphere with few patients sitting on benches looking stranded and ostensibly pondering on the strike action and its effect on their ailments.

Even though nurses and other paramedical staff were seen at post, they seemed to be helpless, as they were found doing nothing except conversing and advising patients who were unaware of the strike action to return to other hospitals or home. A visit to the wards also saw only nurses at their side tables conversing while some patients were also found discussing the strike action by the junior doctors.

The junior doctors of the hospital embarked on the strike action on Friday, demanding the full payment of fuel and salary arrears. A marathon meeting with the doctors by the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey on Saturday yielded little result since the doctors insisted on continuing the strike action until all their demands were met.According to them, the Minister did not show much commitment to the early resolution of their problems.

Mr Kwame Frimpong, Public Relations Officer of the hospital told the He, however, said the hospital authorities would pay all arrears of fuel allowances owed to the doctors in full by the close of the day as directed by the Health Minister. Mr Frimpong said by so doing, the hospital authorities would have discharged their obligations to the aggrieved doctors, and it would be left with the Ministry of Health and the government to fulfil the other demands of the doctors to enable them resume work immediately. He said even though the full payment of the arrears would affect other activities at the hospital, the management had no other option but to pay them.