Koforidua, June 1, GNA - Junior doctors at the Koforidua Regional Hospital have withdrawn their services with immediate effect to back their demands for the payment of five months' salary arrears. In a letter to inform the management of the hospital of their decision, dated May 30, 2006 and signed by their local president, Dr Paapa Puplampu and secretary, Dr Afua Asabea Amoabeng, the junior doctors said they would restore their services only when their salary arrears are paid in full.
They said they would attend to only patients on admission at the beginning of their strike action but would not render emergency services or attend to Out Patients.
When the Ghana News Agency visited the hospital around 1000 hours on Thursday, almost all the departments of the hospital were working except the Outpatient Department (OPD).
There were some nurses at the OPD who were attending to the few patients around but there were no doctors in the consulting rooms. The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Obeng Apori expressed the hope that the issues raised by the junior doctors would be resolved as early as possible by the authorities for the situation to return to normal.