Doctors threaten withdrawal of service

It said the suspended road map which led to the partial withdrawal of services by doctors on February 1, 2013 would “unfortunately have to be reactivated very soon pending the National Executive Council of the GMA meeting next week”.

On February 11, 2013, doctors in the public sector withdrew their outpatient clinical services in protest against the non-payment of conversion difference, reduced Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions and the payment of market premium not based on the NLC award of November 4, 2011.

The statement said following those developments, the NLC took a decision, dated February 2, 2013, directing the FWSC, and for that matter the government, to abide by the award given on November 4, 2011.

The NLC also directed the GMA and the FWSC to, within two weeks, reach an agreement on modalities for the payment of all outstanding arrears based on the decision of the NLC.

Since both parties were unable to reach an agreement, the NLC again gave another three weeks, which expired on March 20, 2013, after which the commission redirected and gave both parties one week to reach an agreement.

The statement added that the Executive Secretary to President Mahama, Dr Raymond Atuguba, wrote to the GMA that a committee to be chaired by the Vice- President would be set up to resolve all outstanding post-migration issues.

“This purported committee is yet to be formed,” it stated.

Another issue that the statement raised was the fact that the FWSC was unwilling to discuss the matter of non-payment of conversion differences and the reduced SSNIT contribution of doctors.

“We want to reiterate that the GMA cannot be attending countless fruitless meetings ad infinitum, as it is clear that the FWSC is out to only frustrate the GMA and is not willing to reach any agreement,” it said.