Doctor says the strike action will continue

Takoradi, Oct. 11, GNA 97 The Western Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Japatey Darko, said said on Tuesday that the government had been treating grievances of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) with contempt hence the strike action. He said the GMA had gone through all the channels of negotiations including the presidency but the authorities continue to trample on their rights.

Speaking to journalists in Takoradi, Dr Darko said early this year the GMA invited Mr. George Smith-Graham, the Chairman of the Fair Wages and Salaries commission (FWSC) during its Executive Council meeting held in Takoradi. The meeting was to address the anomalies in the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) but the FWSC failed to address the issues raised.

He said members of the GMA would continue to stay away as directed until the distortions in the grading structures of the SSSS, issues of unscientific determination of market premium and inducement by the FWSC were resolved.

Dr Darko said doctors had conscience and were law abiding citizens and would not embark on strike action for the sake of it. He said doctors' salaries had not been increased for almost three years and that doctors would not sit aloof for the government to continue trampling on their rights.

Dr. Darko said even though the strike is still on doctors are still attending to emergencies and expressed the hope the authorities would heed to their concerns to enable them resume work. Dr. Darko said GMA would not rescind its decision on the nationwide strike action until the FWSC had met grievances of doctors.