A critical crisis is unfolding at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as Medical Laboratory Professional Workers have begun a phased industrial action, with a complete shutdown of all services scheduled for next week.

The Korle Bu chapter of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) officially commenced a "sit-down strike" across all hospital laboratories on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

This initial phase, which will last until Sunday, February 8, has drastically reduced services, expected to affect thousands of outpatients.

According to the strike notice signed by Chapter Chairman John Kofi Nakoja, the union has directed its members to refuse all outpatient department (OPD) cases during this period.

Only a skeleton staff has been nominated to handle emergency cases for existing in-patients.

The union has also warned that samples requiring follow-up beyond February 8 will not be accepted, signaling a wind-down of operations.

Critical services at the hospital's Blood Bank and the Laboratory at the Cardiothoracic Centre are currently running normally but only for clients under intensive care.

The situation is set to escalate severely starting Monday, February 9, 2026. In this second phase, the union has announced a total withdrawal of all medical laboratory services across the entire Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

This blanket strike will include the previously exempted Blood Bank and Cardiothoracic Centre laboratories, effectively halting a core diagnostic function of the hospital.

The notice also warns of a "possible escalation of the strike by the national union."

The industrial action follows a statutory notice of intended action served on the Minister of Health, the Hospital Management, and the National Labour Commission on January 27, 2026.

While the specific grievances prompting the strike were not detailed in the public notice, such actions typically stem from unresolved disputes over conditions of service, allowances, or working conditions.

The strike threatens to bring non-emergency hospital operations to a standstill and will severely impact the diagnosis and monitoring of patients, leading to delayed treatments and postponed surgeries.