Health workers demand improved working conditions

Workers in the health sector are warning government that quality of health care delivery will be compromised if it does not complete negotiations on their conditions of service as soon as possible.

The workers say apart from their basic salaries they do not receive any additional benefits and that has left them demoralized.

The Ghana Medical Association over the weekend gave government a June ending deadline to withdraw their services and consider themselves unemployed if government does not complete negotiations by the end of the month.

General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association Kwaku Asante Krobea told Joy News the situation is a disincentive to health workers.

"It demoralises the health worker," he said adding they were supposed to have accommodation, fuel and car maintenance allowance but receive nothing at the moment.

"Given the economic situation at the moment and the environment within which we are working you can appreciate the fact that we will not be motivated," he stated.

"Every day the health service worker goes to the hospital with tension and frustration and yet they are supposed to give off their best," he stated.

The Health Services Workers Union has a similar concern. Its General Secretary Abu Kuntulo wants government to fast track ongoing negotiations.

But Public Relations Officer at the Health Ministry Tony Goodman says government cannot be blamed for the delay.

He claims the ministry has completed partial work on the document, and is awaiting review by a committee chaired by the Ghana Medical Association president, to round up negotiations.