Audio By Carbonatix
After four months of negotiations, government has completed conditions of service with doctors following a crippling strike in June which lasted for more than three weeks.
Doctors working in public hospitals across the country will from January next year enjoy their first ever documented conditions of service since the Ghana Health Service was formed in 1996.
Government and the Ghana Medical Association have refused to reveal the content of the signed document which was signed yesterday.
Government had said it was keen to clinch a deal with the doctors and make history as the political administration that handed doctors a codified set of conditions of service.
The document is expected to properly spell out both financial and non-financial components of their engagement, as well as improve service delivery.
The GMA embarked on a strike which saw doctors abandon hospitals for over three-weeks. They first withdrew services to Out-Patient Department followed by a withdrawal of emergency services.
They also threatened to resign en masse.
Except for a two-week mortuary fees scrapped off for a dead doctor, they claim there are no codified conditions of service. Even when their spouses or children get sick they are made to pay for the expenses involved in taking care of them, they claimed.
They therefore demanded conditions of service and proposed, among other things a 40% increase in their basic salary as accommodation allowance as well as 100, 90 and 80 gallons of fuel per month for the different levels of the profession.
They also requested 50% of basic salary per month as professional allowance, a 30% of their basic salary every month as clothing allowance.
Some government officials described the demands as outrageous. President Mahama also vowed not to authorise payments outside the budget.
Two of Ghana's ex-presidents- Jerry Rawlings and John Kufuor- as well as the Asantehene all intervened and asked the doctors to return to work.
The doctors resumed work after repeated assurances from government that codified conditions of service will be signed in no time.
Latest Stories
-
The World Cup and the new geography of belonging
34 minutes -
World Cup 2026: The Stars that were a kick away from a semi-final 16 years ago, arrive in USA not as standard-bearers
44 minutes -
Sky Train trial: $2m loss was caused by Covid-19, defence lawyers argue
56 minutes -
Petrol prices set for sharpest drop in months as fuel costs fall from June 16
1 hour -
Vehicle pollution, a leading risk factor for death in Ghana both the children and working class
1 hour -
GNFS intensifies fire prevention campaigns in Eastern Region
1 hour -
Presidency cuts political appointees by 124, but compensation bill jumps 148% and staff classifications raise questions
2 hours -
Retirees benefit from 7th health screening of Lordina Foundation
2 hours -
Sogakope residents storm ECG office over alleged overbilling, poor service delivery
2 hours -
BoG extends registration deadline for money transfer operators
2 hours -
Esiama Market to become commercial hub of Ellembelle – Kofi Buah
2 hours -
Black Stars to depart Rhode Island for Toronto today ahead of Panama clash on Wednesday
2 hours -
Wenchi 24-Hour Market project takes shape
2 hours -
Suaman MP urges NPP members to rally behind Dr Bawumia for victory 2028
2 hours -
Auditors’ Court to be established to prosecute audit offences – Ato Forson
2 hours