Medical doctors strike shuts down health services in Ghana on HWN STRIKE UPDATE

Following a majority decision by members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to extend its strike for two more weeks, the crisis in the health sector has deepened.

Member of the GMA at the weekend voted to extend their strike action further by two weeks at a crucial general meeting in Accra.

Aside the decision to further abandon their duty posts, the striking medical officers also resolved to continue the withdrawal of emergency services at public health institutions.

By a majority decision of 213 to 148 votes, the doctors dampened government's hope in resolving the labour crisis in the public health sector over improved conditions of service.

Also the motion to restore emergency services to mitigate the effect on the people was also crushed, dashing the hopes of stranded patients.

However, the doctors appear to have soft-pedaled on their planned mass resignation from service. According to the deputy general secretary, Dr Justice Yankson speculations that the doctors planned to resign en masse from the weekend was untrue.

He explained that the decision to resign enmasse was a alternative they would consider should the discussions stalemate.

A labour expert, Kwesi Danso Acheampong, piqued with the decision of the doctors described their action as illegal and urged them to restore negotiations with government.

Source: DailyTrust, HWN Africa.