General News of Wednesday, 7 June 2006

Source: --

Nurses, Pharmacist & Others to join strike

Nurses, Pharmacists and other paramedical staff at public hospitals in the country have announced a strike effective tomorrow morning following a failure by government to implement a directive by the National Labour Commission to rectify disparities identified in the new salary structure for the public health sector, skewed heavily in favor of doctors.

At a Grand Council meeting held this afternoon, the health workers said a 72 hour ultimatum issued on Monday has been ignored by government.

They say when the strike begins tomorrow, it will take nothing short of a complete implementation of a reviewed pay scheme and the subsequent payment of the salaries to get them back at post.

The president of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, Alice Asare Allotey told Joynews, the government should solely bear the blame for tomorrow?s strike as it has brought it upon itself.

Private medical facilities and the 37 Military Hospital have been under severe pressure following a two week strike by doctors in the public hospitals and it is believed tomorrow?s action by the paramedics would further cripple the health delivery.