Lab scientists hint at fresh strike

The Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS) is warning that it will embark on another strike as it accuses the Ministry of Health of undue delays in resolving concerns surrounding a national policy for laboratory scientists across the country.

In a press release, the association said it could not understand why the Ministry of Health (MoH) had failed to expedite action in setting up an independent three-member committee to look into the launch and implementation of the three national policy documents over which the group embarked on an industrial strike action on August 22, 2016.

The statement, signed by the Public Relations Officer of GABMLS, Dennis Adu-Gyasi, accused the National Labour Commission (NLC) of connivance with the MoH to sideline the request of GABMLS.

“NLC, in my view, has relegated its responsibility and seems to be in bed with the MoH.”

“When will employees have fair treatment from agencies that are [tied to] the apron strings of government? It is my desire that the NLC sits up to avert any further industrial unrest from the camp of the members of the medical laboratory profession any time after the 26th of October, 2016 if ruling is not given on the matter.”

The statement said GABMLS subjected itself to the processes at the NLC on the 7th of September, 2016, when the Minister of Health asked for six weeks to set up an independent committee to look into the matter and proffer direction.

But the Ministry, the statement noted, has not taken any steps to have the issue resolved several weeks after the scheduled date.

“The only communication received so far is a letter which indicates the committee, when inaugurated, will be expected to finish its work on the 15th of December, 2016, which is far more than the six weeks requested by the Minister of Health when he appeared at the NLC,” he added.

“Is it the case that the issue is not being considered as one to be handled with urgency? Are the laboratory physicians being pampered to have their way? Are members of the medical laboratory profession not justified to embark on another industrial strike action?”