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Medical laboratory workers at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have announced plans to embark on an industrial action on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, following management’s failure to address concerns relating to the administration of the hospital’s Central Laboratory and other operational issues.
The planned strike is expected to significantly disrupt healthcare delivery at the country’s premier referral hospital.
A Notice of Industrial Action issued by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Chapter of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU) and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday indicated that general laboratory services would be closed to the public.
According to the union, the decision to strike stems from the persistent inability of hospital management to resolve critical leadership and operational challenges affecting medical laboratory services.
The notice, signed by the local chairman of MELPWU, John Kofi Nakoja, and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, stated that the industrial action would be carried out in two phases.
Phase one, scheduled from February 4 to February 8, 2026, will involve the suspension of all Out-Patient Department (OPD) laboratory services. During this period, only skeletal staff will be available to attend to emergency cases for in-patients. The union also indicated that laboratory samples requiring follow-up beyond February 8 will not be accepted.
However, the Blood Bank and Laboratory Services at the Cardiothoracic Centre will continue to operate for patients under intensive care during the first phase of the strike.
Phase two of the action, set to begin on Monday, February 9, 2026, will involve a complete withdrawal of all medical laboratory services at the hospital, including services at the Blood Bank and the Cardiothoracic Centre.
The union further warned that the action could be escalated by its national leadership if the situation remains unresolved.
In an earlier notice, MELPWU cited management’s failure to appoint a substantive Head of Laboratory Services and a Laboratory Manager for the Korle-Bu Central Laboratory, despite the completion of interview processes. The union also raised concerns about the removal of acting officers without appointing replacements.
A previous seven-day ultimatum issued last week accused management of withholding essential laboratory logistics, resulting in operational disruptions and posing potential risks to patient safety.
“It appears management is deliberately withholding essential logistics, resulting in significant operational challenges that threaten effective health service delivery,” the notice stated.
MELPWU also alleged that management is pursuing plans to privatise or outsource the Central Laboratory without engaging the union, describing the move as administrative neglect and a breach of management’s responsibility to ensure effective leadership and continuity of essential health services.
The union demanded the appointment of a qualified Head of Laboratory Services, a substantive Laboratory Manager, and a Director of Allied Health Services within seven days, as well as the suspension of any privatisation or outsourcing plans pending engagement with the union.
With the ultimatum expiring on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, and no resolution reached, the union confirmed it would proceed with a sit-down strike across all laboratories in the hospital.
Despite the planned action, the union assured stakeholders of its commitment to safeguarding patient safety and staff welfare.
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