The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has registered its displeasure at the difficulties it is facing in concluding negotiations on conditions of service for pharmacists in government health facilities across the country.
A press statement by GOSPA indicates that its petition regarding existing new grade structure for pharmacists in the public health service as well as the existing issues pertaining to its interim market premium which has travelled over six years remains unresolved.
“GHOSPA has met the Government Negotiations Team several times already, but the key allowances remained flagged and subject to one adjournment after the other since July 2015,” the statement signed by the National Chairman, Agyemang Badu, read.
Mr Badu said GHOSPA in the course of the process petitioned the National Labour Commission (NLC) seeking an immediate resolution to all outstanding issues with the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC).
He, however, said that meetings and hearings at the NLC have so far yielded no positive results, with each meeting laced adjournments due to one excuse after the other.
“From non-appearance of the FWSC, to no quorum of the commissioners of the NLC, to four different counts of postponement, pharmacists who are essential service workers have endured all these tough times.
This is where we are! Nothing tangible achieved. Just moving round in circles. Our members have been groaning in this merry-go-round since 2010 with nothing to show for our key contributions to the healthcare delivery system whilst we seek the comfort and welfare of our cherished clients and patients,” he mentioned.
Demand
GOSPA has, thus, called on the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the National Labour Commission and by extension the government, to see the resolution of the aforementioned issues with dispatch.
“We are essential service workers and we demand that we are treated as such. This release is to serve notice to government and all stakeholders of our intention to utilise all legitimate means to press home our demands if, on or before 20th July 2016, we do not have any conclusive agreements on the single spine issues (Grade Structure and Interim Market Premium) and the conditions of service negotiations.
We, as executives, would not hesitate to trigger the collective decisions and implement the roadmap as put together by our national delegates to bring finality to our issues,” he stated.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri