General News of Saturday, 15 February 2003

Source: gna

Doctors still on strike

...despite appeals from senior doctors



Striking junior doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have refused to resume work despite appeals by senior doctors, hospital authorities and their representatives.

A meeting held on Wednesday between the aggrieved doctors and their senior colleagues and the hospital authorities advised the doctors to go to work because their action was illegal.

Dr Ishmael Sackey, Spokesman for the junior doctors, however, told the GNA on Thursday that they would soon come out with a statement in reaction to the Wednesday's meeting.

Most of the striking doctors were aggressive and in no mood to talk to the GNA and directed the press to the administration.

Dr Kombian Kambarin, Acting Public Relations Officer of the hospital, said during Wednesday's meeting representatives of the striking doctors said they were not aware of the established institutional procedures by the teaching hospital for resolving grievances.

He said the doctors were further informed that with the inauguration of the Ghana Health Service, the teaching hospitals were now autonomous and it was, therefore, necessary that the doctors, who were employees of the Teaching hospital, went through the right channels before resorting to any action.

Mr Kambarin said the Ghana Medical Association was now handling the issue and expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved soon.