We’ve sacrificed for the past year; no more extensions – GMA

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says it is not ready to negotiate on the timelines given to government over its demand for the conditions of service of doctors and dentists.

President of the GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea, told Kasapa 102.5 FM on Monday “we’ve sacrificed for one year and its time for Government to deliver the new document to us”

According to him, leadership is ready at any point in time within the deadline given to come to the negotiation table with government over the matter.

“It doesn’t matter what time they decide to meet us, even if is on Sunday, we’re ready to start the negotiations with government,” Dr. Frank Ankobea told host Kweku Owusu Adjei on Anopa Kasapa.

Prior to the expiration of the earlier Conditions of Service document, the GMA engaged government with the view to renew the document but to no avail. Post December 31, 2018, the GMA is dissatisfied with the progress so far made” hence, the intended action.

“A one-week window is hereby offered government, that is, if by 18hrs GMT on November 17, the Conditions of Service Document for Medical Doctors and Dentists working with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its agencies has not been signed off for implementation effective January 01, 2020, the following set of activities shall kick start,” a communique by the GMA has said.

“Effective Monday, November 18, 2019, all medical doctors and dentists working in the public sector shall withdraw outpatient department services. This will continue until Sunday, December 01, 2019”.

It said “From Monday, December 02, 2019, to Sunday, December 08, 2019, all emergency services shall be withdrawn”.

It added that “From Monday, December 09, 2019, all services shall be totally withdrawn”.

It will be recalled that the GMA and government in September, 2015, signed the Conditions of Service Document for Doctors and Dentists working in the MoH and its agencies, and the implementation date for this document was effective January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2018.