Reports by TV3 correspondents from across the country suggests that major public health facilities have been inundated with patients following a resumption of duty by doctors who had been on strike for three weeks.
The doctors; who had been demanding improved and documented conditions of service say they called off the strike following appeals from chief, the clergy and other influential individuals.
But the suspension of the strike came two days after the National Labor Commission, NLC, had ordered the doctors to call off the strike and return to the negotiation table with government.
TV3’s Daniel Opoku who visited the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Monday morning, says several patients were trickling in with ample doctors available to cater for their health needs.
TV3’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent, William Evans Nkum, also reported from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, KATH, that several patients had gathered to be attended to.
One patient who had been turned away three weeks ago due to the strike said he was elated to have found doctors available today.
The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr. Joseph Akpalu, who had been visiting the consulting rooms to see how work was going on with the doctors back, told Evans Nkum he was extremely excited to see the doctors back to work.
He said as a facility mandated to primarily offer health services, the last three weeks had been extremely devastating for them .
“It’s the happiest day in my life, and I thank all those who were involved for this to happen. Work has resumed; patients are here as well as the doctors, and so we are all very happy,” he said.
Meanwhile, government on Monday, August 24, resumed negotiations with the Ghana Medical Association on their conditions of service.
The two parties are expected to report back to the National Labor Commission, NLC, on the outcome of their negotiations.
Source: GhanaWeb
