Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has reiterated its support for the process and the work being undertaken by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) for the smooth implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy, which seeks to bring equity and fairness in the public sector pay structure.

A statement issued at the end of the Fourth National Executive Council meeting at Wa, said it recognised the intention of government to introduce the concept of market premiums as an important component of the policy.

The statement jointly signed by Dr E. Adom Winful, President and Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, General Secretary, said "In this regard, the government is called upon, to as a matter of urgency engage the GMA with the aim of implementing the policy in its entirety especially with regards to the market premiums".

The GMA commended government for its efforts to build a new Upper West Regional Hospital and was hopeful that the right incentive packages would be put in place to attract doctors and other personnel to man the facility after completion.

The statement said "This would ensure that, this structure does not turn into a white elephant when it is completed but serve the purpose for which it was built, while addressing the acute shortage of health professionals in the Region".

The GMA expressed concern about the recent negative comments being made about the H1N1 vaccine, and called on the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service (GHS) to intensify their public education, stressing on the exclusion and inclusion criteria for the H1N1 vaccination programme.

The association asked the GHS to speed up analysis of the reported and documented side effects of the vaccine in order to inform the current immunization process.

"Meanwhile, the possible side effects of the vaccine should be clearly spelt out to individuals being vaccinated. This would ensure that similar vaccination programmes now and in the future including the Expanded Programme on Immunisation for children do not suffer unduly and subsequently adversely affect child health in the country," it added.