Accra, Feb. 1, GNA - The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) at the end of its National Executive Council Meeting, has called on government to, as a matter of urgency, reconstitute and inaugurate the dissolved Medical and Dental Council.

The absence of the Council has affected regulatory activities in the practice of medicine and Dentistry in the country, a statement jointly signed by Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful and Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, President and General Secretary of the GMA respectively, said.

The meeting held in Takoradi at the weekend, expressed concern about the issue of medical and drug adverts making dubious claims and the reckless use of the title "Dr." by people who were not doctors. This, the statement said, could be best dealt with by the dissolved Council when reconstituted. The statement also called on the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to expedite the commencement of the job re-evaluation exercise after acknowledging the gross distortions and other anomalies in the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP).

"While assurances have been given that these widely acknowledged distortions will be corrected through a job re-evaluation exercise, we wish to reiterate that in our opinion, the correction of the distortions and other anomalies is fundamental to the successful implementation of the SSPP in July 2010 as envisaged."

It also called on the Ministry of Health to provide the Ministry of Finance with the needed data to enable them to facilitate the implementation of the agreement of paying 10 per cent Call on Duty Facilitation Allowance to practitioners, which has delayed for over one year. The statement further extended its profound condolences to the wife and family of Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), former Minister of Health, who died recently whilst seeking treatment in Israel, and acknowledged his contribution to the development of the Health Sector. 1 Feb.10