Doctors won't boycott emergency cases

The National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has rescinded its decision to embark on an all-out strike on Monday.
Though the doctors would attend to emergencies cases, they will still not treat new patients at the Out Patients Department.

Doctors in public hospitals nationwide, on Monday April 8, 2013, embarked on a strike action to press home their demand for salary arrears and market premium. The decision was reached at a National Executive Council meeting of the Ghana Medical Association held in Kumasi last Saturday.

Even though the doctors had threatened to stop seeing emergency cases from Monday, they softened their decision after a crunch meeting on Sunday.

The doctors are considering a proposal detailing how government plans to pay their allowances, following mediation talks with the Trades Union Congress.

Meanwhile, striking university teachers say they will call off their strike if Monday’s meeting with the employment ministry meets expectation.

But the leadership of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association, GHOSPA says their members are still on strike until their demands are met.