A former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Mohammed Nuru-Deen Jawula, has descended heavily on public sector doctors for their stance at negotiations for service conditions.

Alhaji Jawula admitted that the issue has existed since 2006, when he was at the Ministry, but withdrawing services on the part of the doctors “is not good for their own experiences that they hope to gather”.

He said the situation would rather worsen the health force of the nation as patients could be forced to turn to quack doctors for help.

Alhaji Jawula made these remarks in an interview with TV3’s Josephine Frempong over the weekend.

Doctors have withdrawn emergency and out-patient department (OPD) services after complaining government have shown bad faith throughout negotiations.

Government has also pulled out of negotiations, threatening not to pay the doctors if their action continues.

“The break in treatment that is taking place now is not good for the nation.”

Government has directed patients to some quasi-public health facilities for care while subscribers to the national health scheme have been asked to go to some private facilities for free health care.

“Doctors know that they should not push people to go and seek health from quack sources that will worsen the health situation,” Alhaji Jawula suggested.

“They should not force them to seek help from bad herbalists.”

The doctors are expected to review their position on Friday, August 28 at an extraordinary General Assembly meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

“Why this extreme position?” Alhaji Jawula wondered.

“If government says they don’t have money now, or they won’t have money next year, why don’t [doctors] negotiate for these particular issues beyond 4 or 5 years and let’s see what happens. It could be done.”