General News of 2012-09-04

KATH striking consultants: Gov’t no longer needs our services

Striking consultants at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) say government’s lukewarm attitude towards their recent demands suggests their services are not important.

The about one hundred consultants also double as teachers at the medical school of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and as supervisors of junior doctors at the hospital.

They have suspended work until their top up allowances, which have been in arrears for eight months are paid.

Spokesperson, Dr. Fank Ankobeah told Joy News any decision to call off the strike will depend on government’s posture.

“The status quo remains the same, they [government] haven’t called us so what we are waiting for is any move for negotiations…” Mr Ankomeah said.

“…If they [government] need our services and want to engage us, yes we’ll do that…

“We taught our services were important but that is not the impression we are getting because if you don’t pay me for eight months, you can’t tell me my service is very useful to you,” he insisted.

Meanwhile Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor has reported that the strike is impacting negatively on some aspects of the hospital’s work, especially in areas where patients need specialist attention.

He added that junior doctors there are about to meet to decide whether they should continue working in the absence of their supervisors.

In a related development, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has said it will be illegal for Government and Hospital Pharmacists to go ahead with their intended strike Tuesday.

The pharmacists have called a nationwide strike in protest to the failure of the FWSC to migrate them unto the new pay policy but the Commission says the pharmacists are to blame for the delay.

Director in charge of Grievance Negotiations at the FWSC, Cornelius Yawson has called on the pharmacists to rather return to the negotiation table.