A group of medical professionals have been sacked after footage of them dancing and laughing around the naked body of a man awaiting surgery came to light.

The five employees, from Santa Cruz de Bocagrande Clinic in the north Colombian state of Bolivar, can be seen grooving around the patient, who lies face down and is unconscious.

One of the operating team's members is believed to have uploaded the clip, and the hospital has now come down hard on them, removing them from their jobs.

The authority that produces regulations on health professionals in Colombia has slammed the five, saying the incident breaks "all health protocols" - and the clinic also came out swinging against its former employees.

"The respect for dignity of every patient is the most important thing in our clinic," a statement from the clinic's management read.

"Therefore, we strongly regret the inappropriate behaviour of those who are working as professionals in the health sector, seen in the video recorded in one of our surgery rooms.

"The actions are against the dignity of the patient and are breaking the protocols and the political values of our institution, which are focused on the quality and humanisation of our service."

Santa Cruz de Bocagrande has since apologised.

Newshub.