The Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association, Paa Kwasi Baidoo, has assured that the striking doctors at the Oncology Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) will resume work soon.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Tuesday, he confirmed that steps are being taken to address the situation.

“I think that this is unfortunate and it [strike] will be resolved soon,” he stated.

The doctors at KATH’s Oncology Unit began their strike on Monday, June 26, protesting the delay in restoring the Linear Accelerator System (LINAC) machine, which is crucial for cancer treatment.

The LINAC machine has been malfunctioning since October 2023, severely impacting cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The strike left cancer patients stranded, with many pleading for the doctors to return to their post.

Read also: Cancer patients stranded as KATH doctors abandon oncology services

KATH management expressed disappointment over the strike, describing the action as unnecessary and showing a lack of appreciation for the efforts being made to restore the LINAC machine.

They explained that while the machine has been repaired, it remains non-operational due to delayed access to a water phantom needed for calibration.

KATH’s Public Relations Officer, Kwame Frimpong, emphasised that the doctors were aware of the ongoing efforts to fix the machine, expressing surprise at their decision to strike.

In response, Mr Baidoo described the situation as unfortunate but noted that the strike reflects the doctors’ concern for their patients.

The Minister for Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has also assured that necessary steps will be taken to resolve the issues raised by the striking doctors.