Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong says he supports the decision by members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to embark on a strike action.
According to him, conditions of service for doctors in Ghana are appalling, compared to what pertains to other nations, therefore, they should strike to get their grievances resolved.
Kennedy who claims that doctors have been taken for granted for far too long has advised the Minister of health to immediately take steps to address the needs and challenges in Ghana’s Health Service or face their wrath.
“I support the doctors’ decision. They have been taken for granted for a very long time. Doctors are very important and therefore needs to be taken care of. They hold people’s lives, if they will go on strike for them to get their grievances resolved, then they should go ahead,” he urged.
Kennedy Agyapong was speaking on Adom TV’s Morning Show Badwam Tuesday.
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Ghana may be wrestling with a full-fledged strike by doctors at the end of August if the GMA’s latest list of demands to the government is not met.
Following a National Executive Council meeting on July 27, the association has outlined a number of issues it wants to be addressed before August 6, failing which, an escalating strike will begin.
First, all doctors working in the public service shall withdraw Out-Patient services.
From August 20, all emergency services shall be withdrawn, then on August 27, “all services offered by doctors in the public health facilities shall be totally withdrawn.”
Among these demands, the GMA in a statement has recommended that “non-core expenditures [National Health Insurance Authority] should be suspended.”
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But the NPP MP urged the government as well as the sector minister to sit up and resolve their grievances.
He believes when doctors’ needs are met, it will help resolve instances where some doctors refuse posting to remote areas.
“The minister must sit and listen to these doctors. He should go and find money and take care of doctors before it gets worse”, he warned.