Medical doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have announced an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services, citing a hostile work environment, lack of essential medical supplies, and what they describe as disrespect from top government officials.
In a statement issued after an emergency general assembly meeting on Tuesday, the Doctors’ Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) said members would no longer attend to patients at the General Outpatient Department, Antenatal Clinic, Specialist Clinic, or Paediatrics OPD.
However, the doctors confirmed that inpatient care will continue for patients currently admitted until they are safely discharged.
The doctors’ action follows an incident during a visit to the hospital by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on April 22, 2025. The doctors accuse both the Minister and Tamale North MP, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, of disrespecting their team—especially those at the Accident and Emergency Department—during the visit.
They also criticized what they called “false and biased” media reports about the incident, demanding public apologies from both the Minister and the MP. Additionally, they are calling for media houses that covered the visit to issue retractions and apologies.
“We shall resume emergency and outpatient services after we receive appropriate apologies,” the doctors declared.
Beyond the immediate demand for apologies, the doctors highlighted serious resource and infrastructure challenges that make quality care difficult, if not impossible.
Their urgent demands include:
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Uninterrupted water and electricity supply
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Consistent provision of oxygen and essential medical consumables (e.g., gloves, cannulae, syringes, disinfectants, glucometer strips)
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Laboratory reagents to sustain diagnostic services
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Vital signs monitors for high-dependency units
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Ventilators for neonatal, paediatric, maternal, and emergency wards
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Transport ventilators and incubators
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Repairs to key sterilisation equipment
In the medium term, they are calling for:
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MRI machine that does not rely on helium
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CT scanner with infusion pump
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Mammography and fluoroscopy machines
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C-arm for surgical theatres
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Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) machines in all ICUs
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Mobile X-ray units
The association warned that failure to address these issues promptly could lead to further actions.
The doctors also emphasized their right to withdraw from any situation that endangers their safety, stating that members who feel threatened while on duty will remove themselves from such environments.
Until further notice, DATTH has also declared a media blackout, refusing to engage with outlets that carried the disputed reports until full retractions and public apologies are issued.
