The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu is optimistic that the doctors will not plunge the nation\u2019s health care system into chaos due to what he considers to be the progress made so far in their negotiations.<\/p>\n
Over 2,000 doctors in the country declared a nationwide strike effective today July 30 to demand that the government provides them with conditions of service.<\/p>\n
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) declared the strike on Wednesday after a crunch meeting with the Ministers of Employment and Labour Relations, Finance and Health ended in a deadlock.<\/p>\n
This implies that the GMA has withdrawn all out-patient department (OPD) services.<\/p>\n
But the Employment Minister in an interview was hopeful government will conclude the doctors request soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m optimistic that negotiations will progress into the second and probably the concluding stages. We have given in to some of their request, some of it we have to do further financial implication analysis. We trust that as true to the calling of their profession, they will continue to render services and safe lives as we also do our utmost best to meet some of their demands within the constraints of the budget and the challenge of the economy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has since 2014 warned government to provide them with conditions of service or they will resign from the public service in June 2015.<\/p>\n
The deadline was later extended to July 30 but the doctors believe government has been slow on the negotiations.<\/p>\n
GMA’s Timelines<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n November 10, 2014:<\/strong>\u00a0About 2,000 doctors in the country gave\u00a0government an ultimatum till June 2015<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to spell out their conditions of service or face their wrath.<\/p>\n March 30, 2015:\u00a0<\/strong>The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) threatened to embark on a series of strikes<\/a><\/strong><\/span> if the problems with the payment of their conversion difference and pension contributions are not resolved in two months.<\/p>\n April 10, 2015<\/strong>: The\u00a0GMA said it is ready to push government for appropriate\u00a0conditions of service<\/a><\/strong><\/span> for Doctors.<\/p>\n May 31, 2015:\u00a0<\/strong>The\u00a0GMA threatened another strike<\/a><\/strong><\/span> action over the same issues.<\/p>\n June 16, 2015:\u00a0<\/strong>GMA has issued its final warning<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to withdraw their services in July. June 17, 2015:<\/strong>\u00a0The Health Ministry expressed uncertainty<\/a><\/strong><\/span> about meeting the June 30 deadline to complete negotiations on conditions of service for public sector doctors.<\/p>\n June 29, 2015:\u00a0<\/strong>The General Assembly of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has extended its threat to resign en bloc to July 29, 2015<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n June 30, 2015:<\/strong>\u00a0Government through the Minister of Employment, Haruna Iddrisu promised<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to institute conditions of service for doctors as one of the main legacies of President John Mahama.<\/p>\n July 21, 2015:\u00a0<\/strong>The Ghana Medical Association has served strong notice that its members may be compelled to resign<\/a><\/span><\/strong> en masse in the coming days if negotiations with government continue to move at a slow pace.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin A. Allotey\/citifmone.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n