Accra, Sept. 1, GNA 96Work at the Cardiothoracic Centre has started i= n earnest as many patients thronged its Out Patient Department to seek for treatment two days after doctors called off their partial strike. Fresh cases are being attended to clear the back log of cases as a result of the strike to show solidarity with the Founder and honourary director of centre, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, who was sacked and banned from the place.

Dr Frank Edwin, spokesperson for the doctors, told the GNA that they rescinded their decision after government assured of their autonomy after bouts of negotiations. He said the autonomy of the heart menders was the driving force for th= e efficient running of the centre and that they were pleased with that assurance adding, the expansion and relocation of the centre were also discussed.

Some patients the GNA spoke to, expressed joy that work at the centre had be brought to normalcy and thanked the President and the doctors for putting an end to the partial strike. The Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Monday said it was not seeing new patients anymore from Monday 93till further notice. The doctors at the renowned centre embarked on a hushed 91strike' t= o protest the revocation of the appointment of the 91founder' of the heart centre, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, who has confirmed his removal from office last week. Professor Frimpong-Boateng's appointment was revoked by the Ministry of Health on the grounds that he had sought transfer from the Ministry of Health to the University of Ghana Medical School in the year 2000. While unwilling to speak to the public on the issue, the doctors place= d a notice of the strike, refusing to go back to work until Professor Frimpong- Boateng was reinstated.

Among other things, the doctors demanded that the Centre was run as an autonomous body. And in the interaction with the President, the doctors called for the maintenance of structures and tradition that had kept the Centre running since its inception. President Mills acknowledged the invaluable contribution of the Centre t= o quality health delivery, and asked the authorities and the doctors to reach an amicable solution so that the reputed quality service would not be negatively affected.

The meeting followed a surprise visit to the centre by President Mills on Tuesday to appeal to the striking doctors and workers to resume work as Government addressed their concerns. He also requested the Hospital authorities to allow doctors at the Centre to make inputs into decision that affect the running of the centre. President Mills said their concerns would be considered, and assured them that the necessary recognition to the reknowned heart surgeon would be given, in addition to distinguished medical personnel who had served the nation in other areas. The doctors commended President Mills for the swift response to the crisis.