Patients arriving at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital this week are facing growing uncertainty as medical laboratory professionals begin a phased strike that is already disrupting outpatient care and threatens a complete shutdown of services next week.
The Korle Bu chapter of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union began a sit-down strike on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, affecting all hospital laboratories.
The first phase of the action is expected to run until Sunday, February 8, significantly limiting access to diagnostic services for thousands of patients who rely on the facility each day.
Under the directive, laboratory staff have been instructed to suspend all outpatient department cases during this period.
Only a small number of workers have been assigned to attend to emergency laboratory needs for patients already admitted to the hospital.
Union officials have also cautioned that samples requiring follow-up beyond February 8 will not be accepted, signalling a gradual winding down of operations.
While critical units such as the Blood Bank and the Cardiothoracic Centre Laboratory remain operational, their services are currently restricted to patients under intensive care.
This has offered limited relief in an otherwise tense situation for patients and caregivers.
The situation is expected to worsen from Monday, February 9, when the union plans to withdraw all laboratory services across the hospital.
This second phase will include the Blood Bank and Cardiothoracic Centre, effectively halting core diagnostic functions at the country’s largest referral facility.
The strike follows a formal notice served on the Minister of Health, hospital management, and the National Labour Commission on January 27.
