Bagbin orders striking pharmacists to surrender gov't property

Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Minister of Health, on Thursday directed hospital administrators to ensure that striking pharmacists hand over government property as they continue their industrial action.

He said though the striking pharmacists had the right to embark on strike to demand for better conditions of service "they must not be allowed to keep government property".

Mr. Bagbin gave the directive when he addressed staff of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Hospital at a mini durbar in Sunyani.

The Minister of Health is on a two-day visit to the region.

He said the health status of the citizenry was dear to the heart of the government and it had instituted a number of interventions that would make the sector more attractive to enhance quality healthcare delivery.

Mr. Bagbin said the government would not tolerate attitudes and behaviour of some health professionals that would tend to "draw back the clock of progress" in the sector. He said the work of all the 75 different professions in the health sector was recognizable and appreciable but their conditions of service would vary depending on job evaluation.