Staff of the Tamale Teaching Hospital Laboratory Department have accused the management of the health facility of deliberately rendering the unit non-functional in order to have a reason to outsource it to a private entity.
The workers, who have been demonstrating, say they have evidence to back their claim that the laboratory was generating money for the hospital despite the challenges confronting it.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, the laboratory staff revealed that the decision to outsource laboratory services was never discussed with the staff and that they only found out about the development in an advertisement in the Daily Graphic newspaper.
The staff in the letter said they are kicking against the arrangement because they believe it is unreasonable and not in the best interest of the hospital.
“We the staff of the Tamale Teaching Hospital with the support of sister associations in the health sector wish to unequivocally state that we do not agree with management’s decision to outsource services to a private individual because there are no justifiable reasons for embarking on such an arrangement.”
They also highlighted the fact that all departments in the hospital are under-performing because they deliberately are ill equipped by management.
“Management has failed to show the direction and leadership needed for the laboratory to function properly. The laboratory is not the only department in the hospital that is not performing to expectation. All departments shave been under-performing because they are ill-resourced by management,” the staff said in their letter.
They further argued that outsourcing the laboratory services to a private entity will burden visitors to the hospital because they would have to pay more for health care.
“Besides, outsourcing some laboratory services to a private individual will mean patients have to pay more to access health care.”
The laboratory staff also say no reasons have still been given for the outsourcing of the lab services by management despite meetings with them.
They have thus given the management of the hospital a 72 hour or 3-day ultimatum to address their concerns or they will do everything in their power to put a stop to the arrangement.
“If management fails to communicate to us in writing within 72 hours, we would do everything possible within the limits of the law to put a stop to this intended arrangement which we believe is not in the best interests of he stake holders.”
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana