MOH meets doctors over salaries, allowances

Accra, May 6, GNA - Officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service on Wednesday met with the executives of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) behind closed doors to discuss issues concerning salaries and allowances of doctors.

Dr George Sipa-Adja Yankey, Minister of Health, at a briefing prior to the meeting, said the outcome could lead to better salary and other working conditions for doctors and further help eliminate lapses in the system of payments of such money. He called on both sides at the negotiating table to exercise caution and be reasonable in their demands, taking into account the limited government budget and resources of the country.

The Minister said the current administration inherited numerous problems in various sectors of the economy, including the health sector, but it was committed to resolving the outstanding problem of salaries of doctors once and for all. He gave the assurance that the ministry would do all it could to provide an enabling environment for health workers to operate. Dr Yankey said currently all arrears, both fuel and other allowances owed doctors, had been paid and called on striking doctors of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi to return to work.