Health Ministry outlines measures to minimize impact of Doctors' strike

The Health Ministry has announced various measures to minimize the impact of the strike action declared by doctors.

As part of the directives, all heads of directories in all health facilities should be at post to work with the other non-striking staff available during the period of the strike.

Head of the various units should also ensure that there are continuous emergency services, including maternity services at all health services.

All Ambulance services to remain on standby for emergency services.

A strike by the doctors to protest the absence of a conditions of service document enters day three today.

Striking medical doctors are demanding among others 30 percent of their basic salaries as book allowance from government as part of their conditions of service.

A meeting between government and GMA executives to resolve thorny issues affecting their conditions of services ended in a deadlock on Wednesday night.

Joy News has intercepted a copy of the proposal the doctors sent to government on what they want in the document.

The three paged document signed by the GMA President Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei dated June 29, 2015.

The proposal wants doctors to be entitled to 40% of basic salaries as accommodation allowance per month, 20 per cent as core duty facilitation allowance, 30% clothing allowance, 20% maintenance allowance, 20% utility allowance, 50% as professional allowance and 25 special risk allowance and vehicle tax exemption to doctors.

Some of these demands have been rejected by government leading to the strike and a potential mass resignation by the doctors.

Three days into the strike, the doctors are expressing disappointment government is yet to call them back to the negotiation

General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Frank Serebuo said their attention has been drawn to a letter from government requesting for a meeting on Wednesday.

He said the strike continues.