Doctors at the Oncology Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have intensified their protest against the prolonged malfunction of the Linear Accelerator System, critical for radiotherapy services. 

On Monday, 24 June 2024, health workers vacated consultation rooms in frustration over the delays in repairing the equipment, which has been out of service since October 2023.

Although the machine has been repaired, it remains non-operational as the hospital awaits the arrival of a water phantom required for its calibration.

This delay has prevented the resumption of full radiotherapy services, adding to the frustration of the oncology doctors.

Dr. Opare Larbi, Deputy Medical Director at KATH, criticised the doctors' strike as unfair, pointing out its adverse impact on patients not requiring radiotherapy but still in need of essential care. 

“Why would you want the other patients who do not use radiotherapy to suffer because the radiotherapy machine is not working?" Dr. Larbi questioned.

"Because I believe that if someone is on chemotherapy or on any treatment that involves injecting medication to treat their cancer and the radiotherapy machine is not working and you decide to withdraw your services totally for those who are not on radiotherapy to suffer, it is not fair," he stated.

Dr. Larbi highlighted the hospital management's efforts to address the issue and appealed to the protesting doctors to reconsider their stance for the benefit of all patients.

 “We have tried to reason out with them [management] a lot on this issue,” he added.