Bong County – Operations at Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County were severely disrupted on Friday after aggrieved employees, mainly nurses, began clearing hospital wards and rejecting emergency patients in advance of a protest they have scheduled for Monday.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
FrontPageAfrica reporter at the facility said several admitted patients were instructed to leave their beds and make arrangements to continue treatment elsewhere.
Some emergency cases brought to the hospital were reportedly turned away, leaving families distressed and scrambling for alternative healthcare options within Bong County and neighboring counties.
Relatives of patients described scenes of confusion as healthcare workers informed them that services would be scaled down ahead of the planned demonstration.
A family member whose relative was discharged said they were given little time to prepare and were forced to quickly seek transport to another medical facility.
The action stems from a Resolution adopted by the hospital’s employees following meetings held on January 7 and January 13, 2026 respectively. In the document, staff outlined what they termed deep rooted concerns affecting patient care, employee welfare, governance, and professional standards at the institution.
According to the workers, the pre protest discharge of patients is intended to underscore what they describe as a worsening crisis at the hospital and to pressure authorities to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
One nurse participating in the action said, “We cannot continue to admit patients when the system is already failing them and our concerns are consistently ignored.”
Another staff member explained, “This is not something we are proud of, but we want the public to understand that we have reached a breaking point.”
In their Resolution, employees called for the immediate removal, transfer, or reassignment of the current Medical Director, Acting Administrator, and Acting Human Resource Officer.
They accuse the leadership of presiding over declining standards of care, alleged intimidation of staff, and policies that they believe undermine ethical medical practice.
A senior nurse said, “We have tried dialogue and internal processes, but nothing has changed, and the environment has become increasingly hostile.”
The aggrieved workers are also demanding the restoration of medical and death benefits for employees without discrimination, as well as the reinstatement of suspended sections of the employee policy handbook pending a proper joint review.
A laboratory technician involved in the protest stated, “Emergency treatment should never depend on whether a patient can immediately pay, yet we are operating under policies that delay care and expose us to ethical conflicts.”
The employees further outlined concerns about the lack of reliable ambulance and communication services, unsafe transportation arrangements for staff, inadequate water supply, sanitation challenges, and insufficient cleaning materials and supplies.
Another nurse remarked, “We are being asked to provide quality healthcare without the basic tools and conditions necessary to keep patients safe.”
The Resolution also demands guarantees that no employee will face retaliation for signing or supporting the document. Workers say they want clear assurances that no one will be dismissed, suspended, transferred, or otherwise penalized for participating in the protest.
An aggrieved midwife said, “Many of us have experienced threats or intimidation in the past, so we are insisting on protection before we can fully trust any reform process.”
In addition, the employees are calling for an independent investigation into alleged mismanagement of resources and funds, claims of selective benefits, and practices they say compromise patient safety. They want the findings published and accompanied by a time bound corrective action plan.
The workers have appealed to the hospital’s Board of Directors, the , the Bong County Administration, the Bong County Legislative Caucus, civil society organizations, the , and the media to treat the situation as an urgent public matter requiring swift attention.
They are requesting a written response and a concrete action plan within fourteen working days of the Resolution’s submission. The employees have warned that failure to act within that timeframe will leave them with no option but to proceed with a broader shutdown of the hospital’s services to the public until what they describe as accountable and professional leadership is restored.
Efforts to get a response from the administration of Phebe Hospital on Friday did not materialize. Calls and inquiries seeking comment were unsuccessful as of the time of publication.
