Government, doctors resume negotiations Wednesday

Government and agitating doctors are set to return to the negotiation table on Wednesday August 5, in a bid to find a solution to the ongoing strike across the country.

The doctors are protesting government’s failure to agree on their conditions of service.

As the nationwide strike enters its fifth week, the doctors say they are ready to make compromises to ensure that the impasse is resolved.

Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Dr Justice Yankson however says the doctors are ready to negotiate with government to end their strike.

Public Relations Officer of the Health Ministry, Tony Goodman also said although negotiations broke down, a meeting on Wednesday should bring progress.

He added that instead of the Ministry, the Fair Wages and Salary Commission will be leading the negotiations.

Meanwhile, the doctors have issued a six-week ultimatum warning that they will carry out their threat to resign if an agreement is not reached by then.

However, patients are still being turned away from public health facilities.

The crisis has forced the Health Ministry to order all heads of health facilities to stay at post to work with other non-striking staff during the period of the strike.

It has also directed ambulance services to remain on standby across the country to help coordinate emergency cases.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has also asked Health Insurance cardholders to revert to approved private health facilities for medical care.

This comes after some cardholders were refused healthcare due to the ongoing strike by medical doctors in the public sector.

The doctors’ strike has also been complicated by government pharmacists who have also announced their intention to embark on a strike over the Single Spine pay policy.

The leadership of the pharmacists will call a meeting today to take a firm decision on whether to strike or not following failed negotiations with the Chief of Staff last week.