Medical doctors in the country have warned of more strikes this year to protest unresolved pensions, market premium and salary adjustment grievances.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says these unmet demands were the cause of their strikes in 2014, hence its members will not hesitate to lay down their tools this year too.
GMA blames government for being unresponsive to their grievances since 2006.
GMA President Kwabena Opoku-Adusei says it will be in government’s own interest to swiftly act to avert further strikes this year.
“If government wants to stop or minimise the strike, it can by committing itself to the right thing that should be done”, said Dr. Opoku-Adusei.
The doctors boycotted hospitals last year after negotiations broke down at an emergency National Executive Council meeting between the GMA and government over what the association said were distortions created by the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC) in the process leading to the migration of its members onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
That strike and similar ones that followed were blamed for loss of lives at Ghana’s hospitals.
Dr Opoku-Adusei says even if doctors are forced to be in the consulting room when their demands are not met, quality of health care delivery may be affected.
