We won’t call off strike now – Physician Assistants

• Posted on September 12, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

The Ghana Physician Assistants Association has vowed not to call off its nationwide strike action unless its demands are met.

The Association on Monday directed its members nationwide to lay down their tools to register their displeasure over salary discrepancies that exist within the profession.

In an interview with the media, an executive member of the Association, Anthony Asare Arkoh demanded a total review of the structure of the profession particularly the conditions of service and job descriptions.

“There has not been any effort from the Ministry [of Health] with conditions of service. At the moment we practice like doctors yet we are paid like nurses. And the issue is that the employer has contravened the Labour Act by choosing a union to negotiate salaries for us,” he said.

The Physician assistants have since Monday not been dispensing services at the outpatient departments(OPDs) in the various hospitals in the country.

A statement from the leadership of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association directed “all physician assistants nationwide to effective Monday, 10th September 2018, withdraw all Out Patients Department (OPD) services as outlined in our road-map.”

The statement jointly signed by the Association’s President and acting General Secretary, Alhaji Chief Imoro Bandana II, and Peter Eyram Kuenyefu, said the decision has become necessary because the government and the sector agencies “have not shown any commitment to resolve the numerous problems presented.”

The Association in the statement cited its main concerns as salary discrepancies, obsolete job description, poor conditions of service, career progression/advancement/specialization for physician assistants, financial clearance for both public and privately trained physician assistants, internship allowance,  NHIS medicine list among others.

“All members are to adhere to the 1^st phase of the earlier road-map outlined. Leadership will not entertain any form of intimidation of its members by superiors,” the statement warned.