Health Ministry to investigate striking lab scientists’ concerns

The Ministry of Health has set up a committee to investigate the demands by the striking Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS).

The members of GABMLS laid down their tools on August 22, to highlight their displeasure with government's non-implementation of the National Health Laboratory policy which they say will help raise the quality of laboratory science practice in the country.

GABMLS  has said the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, should be blamed for the consequences of the strike, including lives that would be lost as a result.

The National Labour Commission (NLC), has since filed a suit at the Labour Division of the High Court against the striking biomedical laboratory scientists, praying the court to compel them to go back to post.

The Commission had ordered them not to embark on the strike, and has stated that the action is illegal.

The developments notwithstanding, the Public Relations Officer for the Health Ministry, Tony Goodman, told Citi News that his outfit would wait for a report from the newly set up committee before any further action.

 GABMLS remains resolute
The association of biomedical scientists has however said the NLC suit alone will not compel them to call off its strike.

In a Citi News interview, Spokesperson for the Association, Dennis Adu- Gyasi, said his colleagues would only call off the strike if the court ordered so.

“We've been served with the writ and we are going to meet in court on the 30^th. As it stands now, till we meet in court and listen to whatever the court will be advising, our strike is still continuing unabated,” he said.

Mr. Adu-Gyasi also bemoaned the fact that the NLC had not fought enough for his association saying ” the custodians of the law should have even been the arbiter between us and the Ministry but unfortunately, they have used the law to our disadvantage.”

“If we are considered as essential service providers, we expected the Labour Commission to have treated the matter per the schedule in 162 in the act 651. For essential services, three days, the matters should have been resolved. If no resolution has been received then compulsory arbitration in the space of two weeks,” he added.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana