Gov’t pays KATH consultants to return to work

Government says it has written a cheque to be paid into the extra duty allowance accounts of the consultants of both Komfo Anokye and Korle Bu Teaching hospital following an emergency Labour Commission meeting with representatives of the Ghana Medical Association, (GMA), the MoH and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Friday said despite the severe cash flow constraints, the Minister soon after the meeting directed payment into teh accounts.

The Ministry said government therefore expected the leadership of the Medical Association to implement the third directive of the Labour Commission, which is to call off the strike action by the consultants of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and immediately resume normal duties.

“While active steps are being taken to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that outstanding allowances owed the consultants for the second quarter of 2012 are paid within two weeks as further directed by the National Labour Commission, the Ministry is calling on the consultants to honour their part of the bargain by returning to work,” the statement said.

It said government through the Ministry was working hard in collaboration with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to streamline the current challenges faced by health worker emoluments under the single spine salary arrangement.

The Ministry, therefore, called on all stakeholders in the health sector to exercise restraint and not to give up on their patients and country.

Source: GNA