Kwaku Agyemang Manu – Minister of Health
MEDICAL DOCTORS in the public health facilities led by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have suspended their planned strike action over poor conditions of service.
It would be recalled that the GMA at its 4th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Jirapa on Saturday, July 28, 2018, issued a press statement outlining a roadmap that was ultimately going to culminate in withdrawal of services by its members starting today.
It had recommended that “non-core expenditures (National Health Insurance Authority)” should be suspended.
The strike was expected to begin on Monday, August 6, 2018, until a list of their demands was met by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
The doctors threatened to withdraw their outpatient services first until August 19, and heighten the industrial action by withdrawing emergency services from 20th August until 27th August when they will declare a full-blown strike if their demands are still not met.
Following the statement, government reportedly engaged GMA, a statement issued by the association noted.
The release dated August 4, 2018, and signed by the President of GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea, disclosed that “considering the good faith being shown by the parties, NEC of the GMA has taken the decision to suspend the roadmap.”
According to the statement, “Consequently, doctors will continue to offer services to the good people of Ghana.”
BY Melvin Tarlue