Have empathy for patients – Minister tells striking doctors
Dr. Avea Ephraim Nsoh, Upper West Regional Minister has appealed to striking Doctors in the region to have empathy for patients with critical conditions and attend to them to avoid preventable deaths occurring as a result of the strike.
The Doctors withdrew their services following a statement issued by the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) declaring a nationwide strike action by members of the Association to back demands to have their salary grievances addressed by the government.
Dr. Nsoh who was accompanied by his Deputy, Mr. Abu Kabiebata Kansangbata paid a visit to the hospital to interact with the Doctors in connection with the strike action.
He assured them that government was very much concerned about their demands and was therefore putting in measures to have those grievances addressed as soon as possible.
The Regional Minister said while efforts were being put in place by the government to have the issue addressed it would not be appropriate if patients with critical conditions were left to die.
Dr. Nsoh who was worried about the inadequate number of Doctors in the Region, pledged to work closely with the Regional Health Administration to address some of the challenges that prevented some Doctors from accepting postings to the Region.
Dr. Alexis Nang-beifubah, Regional Director of Health Services thanked the Minister for the concern but pointed out that since the strike was a nationwide one they would notify the national executives for their advice.
Dr. Chris Fofie, a Gynecologist at the hospital and also Regional Chairman of the GMA, assured the Minister that while they joined their colleagues to participate in the strike action, they would see how best exceptional cases that required the attention of Doctors would be handled to avoid needless deaths.
Dr. Fofie appeal to the Minister to see how best he could impress on the Assemblies to regularize the payment of motivational allowances paid to Doctors in the region for the sacrifices they were making.
According to him, those allowances had been stopped for some time now for reasons they did not know.
Dr. Aduku Amiah, a Surgeon Specialist and the Medical Director of the Hospital said the hospital was doing its best to maintain high standards in terms of quality healthcare delivery but that they would require assistance from the Minister in areas that would be communicated to him later.
Source: GNA