General News of 2012-09-17

KATH Consultants Call Off Strike

Medical Consultants of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, (KATH), who suspended their services three weeks ago, have called off the action.

This follows the release of about GHC470,000.00 by the Ministry of Finance for the payment of their second quarter allowances.

Dr Frank Ankobea, spokesman for the group said “we have agreed to suspend our industrial action, pending the report of a committee set up by the sector Ministry to find a permanent solution to our grievances”.

He added that “a letter is being prepared to be given to the CEO of the KATH to assure him of the restoration of our services to the hospital”.

When graphic.com.gh spoke to the KATH CEO, Prof. Ohene Adjei, he said he was monitoring the situation to see if the consultants would resume full scale activities.

He however confirmed that some of consultants were at the hospital premises, having a closed door meeting.

On the release of the top-up allowance, he said the money was paid last Friday, and indications were that it had already reflected in the bank accounts of the consultants.

During a visit to the hospital around 8.30 am Monday, about 10 of the Medical Consultants were sited variously at the wards, consulting rooms and the theatres.

About 60 Medical Consultants and Senior specialists working at the Emergency Unit and other departments of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital withdrew their services in late August, in protest over unpaid allowances for the second quarter of the year.