On Wednesday, medical laboratory employees at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital will go on strike because management has not complied with their demands for the administration of the hospital's Central Lab and other issues. The hospital's medical services are anticipated to be severely disrupted by the action.
The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU) Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Chapter announced that general laboratory services would no longer be available to the general public.The union claims that the planned walkout was prompted by hospital management's ongoing inability to address crucial operational and leadership issues affecting medical laboratory services.
The warning, which was delivered to the hospital's CEO and signed by MELPWU local chairman John Kofi Nakoja, clarified that the strike will be carried out in two stages.All laboratory services provided by the Out-Patient Department (OPD) will be suspended during phase one, which runs from February 4–8, 2026. Emergency situations involving in-patients will only be handled by skeletal staff. Furthermore, laboratory samples that need to be followed up on after February 8, 2026, will not be accepted.
However, it also stated that the Cardiothoracic Center's Laboratory Services and Blood Bank would remain open for patients in critical condition. "Phase two will involve a complete withdrawal of all medical laboratory services at the hospital, including services at the Cardiothoracic Center and the Blood Bank, starting Monday, February 9, 2026."
Additionally, the union issued a warning that its national leadership would escalate the action. The union mentioned in its previous Notice to Take Industrial Action that despite the completion of interview procedures, management had not appointed a permanent Head of Laboratory Services or a Laboratory Manager for the Korle-Bu Central Laboratory.
Concerns were also expressed over the dismissal of acting officers without a replacement. Management was also charged in a previous Notice of Strike with a seven-day ultimatum last week of omitting crucial laboratory logistics, which resulted in major operational disruptions and possible patient safety hazards.
The notification said, "It appears Management is purposefully withholding essential logistics, resulting in significant operational challenges that threaten effective health service delivery."Additionally, the union accused management of pursuing plans to outsource or privatize the Central Laboratory without consulting the union as a crucial stakeholder. The union characterized this action as administrative neglect and a violation of management's obligation to guarantee effective leadership and the continuation of vital health services.
MELPWU requested that management postpone any plans for outsourcing or privatization until after consulting with the union and designate a competent Head of Laboratory Services, a substantive Laboratory Manager, and a Director of Allied Health Services within seven days of receiving the notice. However, the union has gone ahead with a sit-down strike in all hospital laboratories since the ultimatum expires on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, and no resolution has been found. The union reassured stakeholders of its dedication to safeguarding staff welfare and patient safety while declaring the strike. Source: GNA