Children Hospital health professionals at post

Health professionals at Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, in Accra has not embarked on industrial action, despite the nationwide strike declared by Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday, Mrs Francisca Sefakor Kumahor, the Administrator said: “We are attending to patients, doctors and staff are yet to decide whether to join the industrial action or not.”

“Currently we are doing our normal business attending to patients and meeting other health needs of the people”.

Some patients who talked to the GNA commended the health professionals for attending to their needs.

The hospital provides medical care services, pursues disease control and offers reproductive and child health, family planning and nutrition services.

Doctors in the country declared a nationwide strike effective July 30 to demand that government provides them with better conditions of service.

Meanwhile Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has expressed optimism that the doctors would not plunge the nation’s health care system into chaos.

He said progress has been made so far in their negotiations.

“I am optimistic that negotiations will progress into the second and probably the concluding stages. We have given in to some of their request, some of it we have to do further financial implication analysis.

“We trust that as true to the calling of their profession, they will continue to render services and save lives as we also do our utmost best to meet some of their demands within the constraints of the budget and the challenge of the economy,” he added.

Ministry of Health also on Tuesday affirmed that government is still working with the GMA for amicable resolution of the “Service Condition Negotiation deadlock”.

Mr Tony Goodman, Ministry of Health Public Relations Officer told the GNA in an interview that the issue of GMA service condition negotiation is a cross-sectorial challenge.

“We are working with all parties involved Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and the Fair Wages Commission.

“We are all working around the clock to reach an agreement within the shortest possible time”.