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Doctors association in Ghana call off planned strike

Doctors association in Ghana call off planned strike

Ghana

Ghana’s doctors union, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has disclosed the group will no longer embark on a strike next Monday as it had threatened.

The GMA at its meeting in Jirapa in the Upper West Region a week ago threatened to withdraw its services if the government failed to address the discrepancies in their conditions of service.

But in a circular to its members, President of the Association, Dr. Frank Ankobea said they are backing down because the government has agreed to address their issues.

“Government has agreed to unfreeze the market premium with effect from May 2013. Some percentage points increase on the current rate has also been agreed.”

The statement signed by President of GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea said: “government has also agreed to give a detailed directive to all agencies and facilities to implement all the other aspects of the conditions of service that falls within their remit.”

“Following the agreement, the road map issued at Jirapa on Saturday, July 28, 2018, has been duly suspended by National Executive Council (NEC),” the statement added.

Doctors call off planned strike https://t.co/PKrJvHyre6 pic.twitter.com/crDyeWyzwQ

— GhanaNewsPage (@GhanaNewsPage) August 5, 2018

Dr. Ankobea further said the various divisional chairmen have been directed to hold divisional meetings in the coming days to explain the details to GMA members.

Background

The GMA after its fourth National Executive Council meeting held in Jirapa issued a one-week ultimatum to the government to resolve all outstanding issues concerning the employment of doctors.

The doctors demands

The GMA also raised concerns with the implementation of the conditions of service document signed in October 2015.

In addition, it wants their market premiums to return to a factor percentage of basic salary.

The doctors had also threatened not to attend to emergency services from August 20, then on August 27, all services offered by doctors in the public health facilities were to have been totally withdrawn.

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