Minister of Health, Alexander Segbefia, has described the strike action embarked upon by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) as “illegal.”
He consequently entreated the striking doctors who are members of the GMA to go back and work.
He also said he was not in a position to discuss penalties GMA could attract due to the consequences of their strike, but pleaded with them to go back and work.
Mr. Segbefia made the observation in an exclusive interview on The African Live Show on BTA/FTV yesterday in Accra.
The programme also afforded the minister the opportunity to set the record straight regarding a statement released by his outfit that government has agreed to pay 50% of the GMA’s basic salary as Professional Allowance.
He was also not ready to disclose the details of the negotiation between the doctors and government, and thus advised politicians to avoid commenting on issues outside their mandate.
The statement by the health ministry read in part: “Government has described as false a Joy News report claiming that it has agreed to pay members of GMA 50% of their basic salary as Professional Allowance.
The statement signed by the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, stated that the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) was already involved in a universal discussion of Category 2 & 3 allowances.
“The Ho Forum had agreed that the implementation of these allowances be deferred until after all public sector workers have been migrated onto the Single Spine Salary Structure,” he added.
He added that a number of demands in the GMA’s proposal fall under Category 2 and 3 and can therefore not be discussed between the government and GMA alone.
“Government wishes to restate that the negotiation of such allowances at the level of the PSJSNC is not negotiable. Any action to the contrary will seriously destroy the successful implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy, which has and continues to have huge financial implications for the taxpayer.”
According to Mr. Segbefia, government agrees that it may have faulted in one way or the other by delaying the review of the document but added that it was important the striking doctors returned to work help to help save lives of innocent patients.
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