Nurses and midwives at Tamale Central Hospital have threatened a sit-down strike over severe shortages of essential medical supplies, which they say are hindering patient care and staff welfare.
In a petition addressed to the Medical Director, the staff warned they would strike if immediate steps were not taken to address the issue.
According to the letter, a meeting held on January 17, 2025, proposed measures to resolve the shortages, but these promises remain unfulfilled.
As of January 21, 2025, critical items such as gloves, syringes, and medications are still unavailable.
The workers outlined specific demands, including:
- A clear timeline for restocking essential supplies
- Transparency on hospital finances, including revenue and expenditure.
- Updates on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims and payments.
- A timeline for settling the hospital’s NHIS-related debts.
- Information on casual workers and their impact on finances.
- Inclusion of consumables in prescriptions.
- Introduction of incentives to improve staff morale.
The petition set January 29, 2025, as the deadline for meeting these demands, warning that a strike would begin at the Outpatient Department (OPD) and expand to all wards if their concerns were not addressed.
While the staff expressed willingness to work with management to resolve the crisis, they emphasized the urgency of the situation.
Hospital authorities are yet to respond officially, but with a potential strike looming, urgent action may be required to avoid disruptions in healthcare delivery.