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09.04.2020 Health

‘Undefined Frontline Healthworker Could Distract COVID-19 Fight’ — GHOSPA

Undefined Frontline Healthworker Could Distract COVID-19 Fight — GHOSPA
09.04.2020 LISTEN

A group calling itself the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) is outraged over the uncertainties surrounding frontline health workers who are to benefit from the COVID-19 stimulus packages in the health sector.

GHOSPA says although it acknowledges the great effort by President Nana Akufo-Addo, in showing good leadership to “inspire the nation in this difficult moment”, it is very dissatisfied with government’s seeming interpretation of frontline health worker.

Controversy has been brewing over who qualifies as a frontline staff after President Akufo-Addo announced some incentives for that group of health workers in his last national address on COVID-19.

In a statement, GHOSPA is demanding clarity on the description of health workers who fall under that category warning that the confusion could have dire consequences on Ghana’s quest to combating the pandemic.

“We are not satisfied with the interpretations being given to the term 'frontline health worker', who is to benefit from the 50% allowance, by some high ranking state officials, according to media reports monitored. We recommend a quick re-look at that definition to include all health staff in all regions of the nation, and not only those at the designated 56 treatment centres. Otherwise, this incentive package may turn out to become a disincentive to other health workers in the other facilities to reduce their vigilance. And that could spell doom for the entire nation.”

Meanwhile, GHOSPA has given assurances to pharmacists in Hospitals and other state institutions noting that “we want to finally assure our colleague Pharmacists, working in both the private and public hospitals across the country and those in all state and quasi-government institutions, who constitute GHOSPA, to continue to keep their calm, as the leadership seeks solutions through dialogue with key stakeholders at the highest levels in the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in order to bring finality to our pressing challenges. All must continue to put in our best in the fight against this pandemic.”

---citinewsroom

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