The Ghana Medical Association says it supports the decision of doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to lay down their tools following attack on them by relatives of a woman who delivered there but could not find her baby.
General Secretary of the Medical Association, Dr. Frank Serebour, said the action is justified due to the unsafe situation there.
In a statement the GMA noted that these physical attacks on the doctors and other health personnel in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi as well as the Nkawie District Hospital both in the Ashanti Region can only be described as barbaric and uncivilized.
It says if adequate steps are not taken by Administrators of various hospitals in the country to guarantee the security of its members, it will have no option than to direct all doctors to stay away from the hospitals in the quest to safe guard their lives.
The statement calls on the police to ensure that these “unscrupulous individuals” who attacked various facilities are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who will want to behave in such an “irresponsible” manner in future.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has instituted an investigation into the matter.
BACKGROUND:
On Friday, doctors and Nurses at the Komfo-Anokye Teaching Hospital embarked on an indefinite strike. The doctors cited insecurity as reason for their action.
They maintain that not until they are sure of adequate security, they will not return to work.
Their action follows the incident where family members of an alleged dead baby delivered at the maternity ward stormed the hospital and attacked doctors and nurses on duty, destroying property and demanding the corpse for burial.