The Korle-Bu Doctors Association (KODA) has given the management the facility until Thursday, April 30, to address major concerns which it describes as serious threats to patient safety and professional standards or its members will embark on an industrial strike at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from May.

The assocation in a formal notice shared on Thursday, April 30, noted that, if by close of Thursday, April 30, their demands aren’t met all services rendered by its members will be withdrawn immediately.

“The Korle-Bu Doctors Association (KODA) has resolved to embark on an industrial strike effective May 2, 2026, should management fail to address urgent concerns by close of Thursday, April 30, 2026. Members will withdraw services until the issues are resolved,” parts of the notice read.

KODA asked the hospital management to reinstate Laboratory Physicians and trainees to the Central Laboratory, ensure all specialised laboratory results are validated by qualified Laboratory Physicians, guarantee unrestricted access to laboratory systems and equipment for clinical and academic work, investigate alleged threats against doctors, and halt the rollout of 24-hour specialist outpatient services until proper consultation and staffing are secured.

On access to laboratory, KODA requested “We note with grave concern the exclusion of Laboratory Physicians from the Central Laboratory. This constitutes a serious threat to patient safety and professional standards. We demand immediate reinstatement of all Laboratory Physicians and trainees, and insist that leadership roles in laboratory departments be determined by professional merit and institutional standards.”

It also strongly, “...opposed the proposed rollout of 24-hour specialist outpatient services. The hospital already provides round-the-clock outpatient care through the Korle-Bu Polyclinic. The current framework does not distinguish between extending existing hours and engaging additional personnel, and risks undermining patient care.”

Additionally, the Association is calling for a full investigation into alleged threats against its members, urging management to take disciplinary and protective measures where necessary to safeguard staff and maintain operational integrity.

Another major concern of the association is the proposed 24-hour specialist outpatient services, which they believe will not be effective due to inadequate staff, unclear policy and over-burdening of existing health personnel citing that the hospital already operates a 24-hour outpatient facility through the Korle-Bu Polyclinic.

“KODA draws Management’s attention to the fact that the 24-Hour Economy Policy of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, which appears to inform this directive, contemplates the engagement of additional personnel to cover afternoon and night shifts, not the extension of existing working hours for the same employees.

“The current implementation framework does not appear to reflect this distinction,” the statement added

It further urged management to prioritise improving efficiency within existing outpatient services as a more immediate intervention.

They warned that failure to meet these conditions by the stated deadline will trigger a full withdrawal of services from May 2, a move it says is intended to protect patient safety, uphold professional standards, and preserve the long-term functionality of the hospital.

Meanwhile, last month, government announced plans to establish a National Command Centre as part of efforts to significantly reduce emergency response time and improve patient outcomes across Ghana’s healthcare system.

Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Prof. Titus Beyuo, said the proposed centre will enable real-time coordination of emergency cases, ensuring patients are directed to hospitals with available beds instead of overcrowded facilities.

He disclosed the plan amid growing concerns about congestion at major referral hospitals, particularly Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which continues to receive a high volume of emergency cases.

Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show on Tuesday, March 24, Prof. Beyuo explained that the command centre forms part of a broader emergency patient management system being developed to streamline care delivery nationwide.

“We need the ambulance service to relocate their call centre to this national command centre. We need to get physicians and other people at the command centre who will do an online sorting of patients and redirect them,” he explained.

The initiative is expected to transform how the National Ambulance Service operates, as ambulance teams will no longer send patients automatically to facilities like Korle Bu Teaching Hospital or Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital without confirming bed availability.

Instead, emergency cases will be routed based on real-time data from the command centre, a move expected to reduce delays that often worsen the condition of critically ill patients.

A key challenge the system seeks to address is the lack of visibility on bed availability across hospitals, which frequently results in patients being taken to already overstretched facilities.

Prof. Beyuo indicated that for the system to function effectively nationwide, all of Ghana’s over 200 ambulances must be integrated into the platform—an effort that is currently ongoing.

He added that the command centre will help distribute emergency cases more efficiently across healthcare facilities, easing pressure on major hospitals while improving survival chances.

Prof. Beyuo also credited the Minister of Health for driving the initiative forward, describing the minister as “very committed” to ensuring its implementation.