General News of Monday, 5 June 2006

Source: GNA

Doctors in Tamale not on strike

Tamale, June 05, GNA - Doctors at the two government hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis have not joined the strike action by their counterparts in other parts of the country to back their demand for better conditions of service.

When the GNA visited the Tamale West Hospital (TWH) and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) on Monday the doctors were going about their normal duties.

A Senior Medical Officer at the TTH, who spoke to the GNA on condition of anonymity, said the junior doctors at the hospital were not on strike because they were on contract and paid directly by the hospital.

He said the senior doctors were not joining the strike because the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) was negotiating with the government on their service conditions.

"The GMA is expected to complete its negotiations with the government by June 09 after which it will give members feedback for us to decide on their next line of action." Mr Mohammed Hashim, Hospital Administrator at the TWH, said the hospital had one Senior Medical Officer, two Medical Officers and two Medical Assistants at post.

The GNA could not speak to Dr. Daniel Tapang, Chief Executive of the TTH, because he had travelled out of town.