Koforidua, April 24, GNA - Paramedical staff of Koforidua Regional Hospital on Monday joined the nation-wide strike action by their colleagues to back their demand for increases in their new pay structure.

When Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the Out Patients Department (OPD) of the hospital at mid-day, the records office was closed with a red banner tied to the door, all consulting rooms were locked as the doctors were attending a closed door meeting at the administration. There were no nurses at the OPD except a nurse at the injection room and three senior nursing officers at the causality ward that also handles emergency cases arranging for the transfer of some patients to the main wards.

The pharmacy department was opened but handled only emergency cases while few nurses at the wards were taking care of patients on admission. The Blood Bank and the Laboratory Department were closed. There were some administrative staff around but were not prepared to talk to the media as they claimed they were on strike and therefore, could not talk on behalf of the hospital.

An administrative staff that spoke on anonymity, said the medical officers and casual staff were at post to handle patients on admission and emergency cases but new patients were directed to Saint Joseph Hospital.