Korle Bu doctors suspend OPD services over laboratory dispute

Doctors at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have withdrawn all Out-Patient Department (OPD) services following a protracted dispute involving laboratory personnel at the facility’s Central Laboratory.

The industrial action, announced by the Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA), took effect on Monday, May 4, 2026, with the group warning of a possible escalation if the situation remains unresolved.

Safety concerns drive decision

In a statement issued on May 3, KODA said the move was necessitated by concerns over patient safety and the integrity of clinical decision-making processes.

“KODA withdraws all Out-Patient Services (OPD) from Monday, May 4, 2026. Escalation towards suspension of in-patient services will be communicated in due course,” the statement said.

The Association attributed the standoff to what it described as the unlawful restriction of access to the Central Laboratory by members of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, a development it said was interfering with clinical operations.

Demands over laboratory access and oversight

KODA is demanding that all specialised laboratory results be reviewed and validated by qualified Laboratory Physicians before they are released for clinical use.

It is also calling for unrestricted access to laboratory systems and equipment for both clinical services and academic work, insisting that any limitations undermine the hospital’s operational efficiency.

The Association further urged hospital management to investigate alleged threats against its members and to take appropriate disciplinary and protective measures.

Opposition to policy changes

Beyond the immediate dispute, KODA also raised concerns about plans to introduce 24-hour specialist outpatient services, arguing that such services are already provided through the hospital’s polyclinic.

The group maintained that the proposed policy could place additional strain on an already stretched system.

Patients affected as standoff continues

While acknowledging the disruption to patients, the Association defended its decision as necessary to safeguard standards within the country’s premier referral facility.

“We regret the inevitable inconvenience to our patients; however, this action is necessary to ensure patient safety and the long-term stability and professional standards of the hospital,” the statement added.

The development is expected to affect hundreds of patients who rely on outpatient services at the hospital, as stakeholders await intervention to resolve the impasse.