The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers' Union (MELPWU), says the Union will not stand aloof for the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to use Management’s prerogative to appoint one of their own to head the Laboratories.

According to the group, the Union will not in any way "condone such an unfair labour practice.”

“MELPWU is forced to condemn in the strongest terms the confusion being fueled in the health sector by Management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) with support coming from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).”

In a press statement issued by the group indicated that, professions in the health sector are regulated by the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (ACT 857). Under the law, each class of profession is distinct and has no role conflict with another therefore Management of KATH does not have the legal backing to make one profession a subservient of the other.

“No profession is a 'jack of all trades'. The professionals are trained and licensed to practice specific jobs.

“One man cannot do it all alone. It is therefore important for the employer to take interest in building team spirit among the workers rather than belittling others and endorsing unnecessary turf wars. Medical Laboratory Professionals are capable of leading their trade,” the release stated.

The Union showed their unwavering support and solidarity for their colleagues at KATH and also called for the support of all other Medical Laboratory Professionals across the country to back their colleagues up in the strike.

MELPWU further called on the Ministry of Health, the Government of Ghana, the National Labour Commission and all relevant stakeholders in the sector to urgently intervene to forestall the looming nationwide industrial action.

The release comes after Medical Laboratory Scientists and allied professionals at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) declared a strike on May 19.

The local branch of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) is protesting a decision by the hospital’s Management to post two medical officers, Lesley Osei and Eunice Agyemang Ahmed, to the Laboratory Services Directorate, to fill vacancies there.

The two have been appointed as Clinical Haematologists at the Laboratory Services Directorate.

The protestors argue that members of the Association who qualify for the vacant positions have been sidelined.