GRNMA Strike: Private Hospitals Flooded with Patients Amidst Ongoing Nurses Walkout

Accra, Ghana –
Private hospitals across Ghana are experiencing a dramatic surge in patient intake as the strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) enters a critical phase. The industrial action, which has seen nurses and midwives abandon posts at public facilities nationwide, is placing extraordinary pressure on private health centers.

Health professionals at private facilities report overcrowded wards, extended waiting hours, and overstretched staff as they struggle to cope with the sudden influx. Some clinics have even had to turn away non-emergency cases due to capacity constraints.

“We are doing everything we can, but the numbers are overwhelming,” said Dr. Emelia Tetteh, Medical Director at a private hospital in Kumasi. “Our staff is exhausted, and resources are running thin.”

The GRNMA began its strike action over stalled negotiations regarding improved conditions of service, allowances, and delays in financial commitments promised by the government. Despite appeals from the Health Ministry and Parliament’s Health Committee—who are scheduled to reconvene with GRNMA leaders in two weeks—there’s no immediate sign of resolution.

In the absence of nurses in public hospitals, many patients, especially in critical condition, are being rushed to private facilities, often at a higher cost. This has raised concerns about equity and access to healthcare, particularly for low-income families.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called on the government to act swiftly, warning that the country’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse if the deadlock continues.

Meanwhile, public sentiment is growing more urgent, with citizens demanding a speedy resolution to restore full functionality to the nation’s health services.