President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Frank Ankobeah, has asked the government to meet and dialogue with the striking members of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) in order to address their issues.

According to him, the decision to strike will have several consequences on the health sector in the country therefore all efforts must be put in place to deal with the issues.

The members of the GAMLS are expected to withdraw all laboratory services including blood banking services effective today, Monday, 28 May 2018.

It follows a directive by leadership of the association.

The group last week issued an ultimatum to government to address their plight including disparities in placement on the single spine salary structure and a demand for the establishment of a directorate to cater for the affairs of lab technicians.

In a statement, GAMLS said their medical superintendents and directors instead of supporting them by calling on authorities to attend to their concerns; are rather working against their interest.

But speaking on the Ghana Yensom show on Accra 100.5FM hosted by Chief Jerry Forson on Monday May 28, Dr Ankobeah said: “I will plead with the government, the Ministry of Health and all the relevant agencies in the health sector to meet and dialogue with the lab scientists.”

He added : “This is an area that is beyond the Ghana Medical Association and so all we can do at the moment is to appeal to the authorities to dialogue with them and deal with the issues that have resulted in the strike.”