Appealing To Government Hospital Pharmacists

PRESS RELEASE FROM GET TOGETHER MOVEMENT (GETOM)

Daniel Osabutey ( 0277-722587)

Initiator of Get Together Movement ( GETOM)

Appealing To Government Hospital Pharmacists ASSOCIATION (GHOSPA) AND FAIR WAGES AND SALARIES COMMISSION (FWSC) TO END IMPASSE.

Nobody can deny the immense contribution of Pharmacists in the health sector hence the need for equity and fairness in their remuneration. Since 4th September,2012 Pharmacists in the public hospitals have withdrawn their services to protest anomalies in their migration to the new salary structure. This action has compounded the plight of many patients who visit our public hospitals. Concerned Ghanaians are at sea and are asking mind-boggling questions. Why was GHOSPA not included in the migration of public health workers to the new salary structure? When will strike action cease to be a weapon for agitation? As a nation is it not better for us to be proactive to forestall the negative impact of such perennial strikes? Why should those in the helm of affairs wait for workers to embark on industrial action before they act?

We are appealing to FWSC and the leadership of GHOSPA together with an independent mediator to resume negotiations to find a lasting solution to this impasse. Assigning or apportioning blame is not the solution to the problem, the underlying contention should rather be addressed. Negotiation is a panacea to labour dispute, however taking an entrenched position in any negotiation will only result in a deadlock, which may culminate in labour unrest. It is therefore important for GHOSPA and FWSC to compromise their position in order to reach a consensus for an amicable settlement. Such sacrifices on the part of both parties will definitely resolve the impasse.

We are calling on politicians and social commentators to be circumspect in discussing this issue to avoid heighten tension. Instead of politicizing the problem, we should rather adopt a nationalistic and a non-partisan approach to solving it. Human life is priceless, patients are going through Psychological trauma and are pleading with the pharmacists to resume work.

Get Together Movement (GETOM) is therefore making a passionate appeal to our Pharmacists to suspend their strike action for the sake of the poor patients who cannot seek medical attention at the private hospitals. GHOSPA, kindly hold back your action to pave way for fresh negotiation with FWSC. The time to smoke the peace pipe is now. God bless our homeland Ghana.

Source: Adzigodi Dennis Narterh.