Catholic church justifies sacking 14 doctors

Chairman of the Diocesan Health Service board of the Catholic Church in Techiman, Very Reverend Father John Kofi Takyi has justified the dismissal of fourteen (14) medical doctors of the Holy Family Hospital.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gzy0CoRy8pS5hE4G2VtcqrNcl4lXQErT”]According to him, the action by the doctors contradicted the principles upheld by the Catholic Church which does not believe in using strikes to get labour issues addressed.

14 doctors including junior and senior house officers of the Holy Family Hospital were sacked by the National Catholic Health Service for expressing solidarity to the Ghana Medical Association in the latter’s strike demanding conditions of service from government.

But speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, Very Reverend Father John Kofi Takyi who also serves as the Vicar General of the Catholic diocese of Techiman, explained that the move embarked by the junior doctors contradicts the ethics and values of the Catholic Church.

“For our identity as Christian health institution, one of our core values is not to go on strike as a means of solving issues of this nature.”

“The core value of human life as we uphold it is so critical that such action is under no circumstance tolerated in our institution, not at all precisely because of the importance of the services we are rendering,” he added.

Meanwhile Very Reverend Father John Kofi Takyi concedes the action will lead to increase the burden on the doctors available currently.

He however said processes are underway to recruit new doctors to ensure the continuous provision of medical services.

Very Reverend Father John Kofi Takyi further dissented to opinions suggesting that the decision by the National Catholic Health Service violates the labour laws of Ghana.

“We are not violating their rights at all again within the context of a Christian institution, we have a certain identity, certain values and certain ethical principles upon which our identities are based and therefore to work with us means you agree,” he stated.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana