Junior Doctors’ Association announced plans to withdraw services nationwide beginning Tuesday, October 7, citing prolonged salary delays, indefinite posting bottlenecks, and what it calls sustained neglect by government authorities.
The association, which represents early-career physicians across the country, said in a statement that over 200 junior doctors have worked for between 10 and 14 months without pay, while some medical officers already on the payroll have seen their salaries suspended without explanation.
Signed by President Dr. Louisa Afia Nkrumah and General Secretary Dr. Rhoda Wun-nam Amadu, the statement also highlighted that more than 800 trained doctors have been awaiting official posting for over 16 months—despite repeated engagements with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.
“Despite goodwill shown towards the government, no solutions have been offered. The continued exploitation of junior doctors will no longer be tolerated,” the association said.
Phased Withdrawal
The industrial action is set to occur in phases. From October 7 to 9, all outpatient services provided by junior doctors will be suspended. Beginning Friday, October 10, emergency services will also be withdrawn until further notice.
Inpatient care will continue temporarily, the group said, but no new admissions will be accepted.
The association has placed full responsibility for any disruptions in healthcare delivery on the Ministry of Health and the Government of Ghana, calling for immediate intervention to prevent a full-blown crisis in public hospitals.
Mounting Pressure on Health Sector
Ghana’s healthcare system, already under strain due to staffing shortages and funding constraints, faces heightened pressure as a result of the planned walkout. Industry observers say the strike could have wide-reaching consequences for service delivery across the country’s public health institutions.
As of Friday, government officials had not publicly responded to the junior doctors’ announcement.
The JDA’s move comes amid growing concerns about workforce morale in the health sector, where periodic protests and strikes have become more common in recent years.
Source:TheDotNews