This decision follows recent developments at the facility, which escalated during a surprise visit by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, resulting in a heated exchange with members of the hospital’s management team.
Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Atiku Adam, was subsequently dismissed by the minister due to managerial concerns.
This action has sparked a series of reactions from the hospital staff, including the indefinite suspension of services in protest against the minister’s conduct.
However, the suspension of services is accompanied by a series of demands put forward by the staff of Tamale Teaching Hospital.
They have indicated that they will resume provision of emergency and outpatient services only when the apologies are made in a short period.
“With immediate effect, all members of DATTH have proceeded on an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services (General OPD, Antenatal clinic, Specialist clinic, Paediatrics OPD). Inpatient care shall continue for our clients currently on admission until they are safely discharged from the hospital,” a statement dated April 23, 2025 stated.
Check out their demands below;
1. Unqualified apologies from the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and the Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini should be rendered to Dr Valentine Akwulpwa, all doctors of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and staff of the Accident and Emergency department.
2. We shall resume provision of emergency and outpatient services after we receive appropriate apologies.
3. The management of the hospital should ensure that the following are available in the short term for us to work effectively:
a) Constant flow of water through the taps for clinical work
b) Stable electricity supply in the hospital
c) Constant supply of oxygen
d) Provision of consumable items such as gloves, gauze, cotton, face-masks, cannulae, sutures, syringes, disinfectants, glucometer strips, plaster, etc.
e) Constant supply of reagents to ensure continuous availability of essential laboratory tests within the hospital
f) One hundred continuous vital signs monitoring devices for all high dependency units in the hospital
g) Four ventilators at the accident and emergency department
h) Four ventilators at the intensive care unit
i) Two ventilators at the pediatric emergency ward
j) Two ventilators at the neonatal intensive care unit
k) Two ventilators at the maternal intensive care unit
l) Two transport ventilators
m) Two transport incubators at the obstetrics and gynecology department
n) Service and repair the 1000L autoclave machines at the CSSD
4. That in the medium term, the following must be provided to facilitate our work:
a) An MRI scan machine that does not use helium
b) A CT scan machine that has an infusion pump
c) A mammography machine
d) A fluoroscopy machine
e) A C-arm machine at the main theater
f) ABG machines in all intensive care units of the hospital and one at the accident and emergency department
g) Two mobile x-ray machines
5. DATTH will continue to engage management to ensure that the aforementioned in points 3&4 are available for healthcare delivery. We shall advise ourselves if there is failure to achieve the above within the shortest possible time.
6. That should any of our members feel threatened at any point in the provision of services within the hospital, they shall immediately remove themselves from such hostile environment for their own safety.
7. That all media houses that released false and biased reportage of the incident at the TTH accident and emergency during the health minister’s visit on 22/04/2025 should render apologies to DATTH on their platforms. DATTH shall not engage these media houses until this is done.
