The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has maintained that its members are still on strike, citing inconsistencies in a second statement issued by the Ministry of Health, despite assurances received from the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, during a meeting over their concerns.
The industrial action comes in the wake of the suspension of KATH Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, following his announcement of the suspension of emergency services at the hospital.
In an interview with Citi News on Monday, June 8, the Chairman of the Association, Dr Hammond Abeiku, clarified that inpatients and critical cases are being attended to, but not OPD cases.
“That decision was not unilateral. No one was turned away; the hospitals we liaised with treated the patients. No casualties ensued from that decision. We are attending to inpatients and physically ill patients. But the outpatients, we’re not attending to them,” he said.
He said members were considering a decision to either call off or vary their strike action, depending on the outcome of discussions with the Regional Minister.
However, the Ministry subsequently released a second statement whose content, he said, was inconsistent with agreed decisions and assurances given by the regional Minister.
“The statement by the health ministry was in bad faith,” he asserted.
He added that the Association is awaiting the outcome of a meeting between the hospital board and the Health Minister scheduled for Monday, June 8, before taking a final decision on the matter.
When asked about a directive from the National Labour Commission (NLC) to call off the strike, Dr. Abeiku said the Association had not been officially served and had only seen it in the media.
“We have not been served any notice by the NLC,” he said.
