Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has indicated that the committee is prepared to step in to help resolve the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) if ongoing negotiations fail to yield results.

Speaking on JoyNews' The Pulse on Monday, June 9, Dr. Nawaane acknowledged the critical role nurses play in Ghana’s healthcare system, describing them as the backbone of the sector.

“Nurses are the backbone of the health system. In fact, health sovereignty, quality, and resilience depend on them. When they are not there, there is a standstill in all departments in the hospital,” he stressed.

• Read also: Striking nurses meet Health Ministry to end ongoing strike

While the Health Committee has not been officially invited to mediate in the matter, Dr. Nawaane said the committee is eager to be part of the solution.

He, however, noted that the association did not exhaust all negotiation avenues before resorting to industrial action.

“As a Health Committee, we have not actually been approached formally to assist them in this negotiation, but we want to be part of the solution. That is why we are saying that the nurses did not complete all avenues for negotiations,” he said.

He added that the Committee would hold a meeting on Tuesday to deliberate on possible steps to take if the deadlock continues, saying that if necessary, Parliament will summon all parties involved for a comprehensive dialogue.

• Read also: Nurses’ strike escalates, disrupting healthcare services nationwide

“If this problem is not resolved soon, Parliament, through the Health Committee, will invite all the parties to Parliament for a thorough discussion about the issue,” he warned.

Dr. Nawaane also made a humanitarian appeal to the striking nurses, urging them to consider the impact of the strike on patients and return to the negotiation table.

“I understand there is a meeting going on between the Minister of Health and the nurses, and I’m hoping that they will come out with a solution,” he said.