Parliament’s Select Committee on Health has expressed worry about the many strikes in the health sector and is calling for effective ways of resolving the problems.
Three bodies including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Psychiatric Nurses at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital and the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) are all on strikes over a wide range of concerns including conditions of service and salary arrears.
[contextly_sidebar id=”WltAk5K0GHNKxTgpdtcRLSfCTsdQxwyz”]In an interview with Citi News, Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliamentary for Wa West Constituency, Joseph Yieleh Chireh said that the strikes by these bodies have created a crisis for the Ghanaian community.
“This is not unexpected. Everybody has given some warning and so we of the committee think that it is unfortunate that these developments are occurring,” he said, “We also think that having made their (the doctors) case since November last year, the finances go back about four years and they also mentioned another one a year ago. All these developments are creating a situation of crisis for us.”
However, Joseph Yieleh Chireh believes that a return to the negotiating table by all involved is necessary for a faster resolution of the many concerns.
“First of all, we want to invite everybody. In order to reduce the tension, let’s follow laid down procedures no matter how hard it is because if lives are lost it will be difficult to bring the lives back,” he continued, “If they waited from last year and sometimes more than a year but they are not seeing it, they have told Ghanaians and Ghanaians will follow.”
“The Government of Ghana also has an obligation. They may be asking for many things but government as a custodian of all our resources will have to be reasonable in determining what can be given,” he added.
He also expressed his worry and concern over the innocent patient who was the victim in these worrying developments.
“As health professionals they know better than we all do but you do not punish the innocent patient because of some other person’s inaction or delay in taking action,” he stated.
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By: Selassie A. Amissah Mensah /citifmonline.com/