Health Minister asks public not to panic over doctors’ strike
Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health has urged the public not to panic over the nationwide strike declared by members of the Ghana Medical Association as government had put in place measures to deal with the situation.
She said, the Ridge hospital was working 24 hours to attend to patients and that doctors at the 37 Military Hospital were fully at post to receive emergencies and other cases.
Ms Sherry Ayittey gave the assurance on Tuesday when she toured the Ridge and 37 Military hospitals in Accra to access the impact of the doctor’s strike.
She said government had directed all Regional and District Directors of Health, including Senior Medical doctors, to be on standby and attend to all emergency cases in the various regions and districts.
She said government had put up a programme to provide logistical support to the various hospitals and polyclinics across the country to deal with emergencies.
At the 37 Military hospital, Ms Sherry Ayittey promised to provide beds to deal with the huge number of patients that would be visiting the facility as a result of the strike action.
She also promised to provide an emergency shed for the ridge hospital to deal with cases of antenatal, obstetrics and gynaecology, adding that, preparations are being made to construct an ultra-modern hospital complex at the Hospital.
She said government would continue to dialogue with members of the GMA to return to work.
Brigadier General Paul Yaw Kponyoh, Commander at the 37 Military Hospital assured the public that measures had been put in place to deal with all emergency cases.
He said the authorities at the hospital had recalled their staff on leave to help with the expected influx.
“We are in control of the situation and are ready to deal with all emergency cases that will come as a result of the strike action by doctors nationwide”, he assured.
He urged the Minister to seek a parliamentary approval for the Hospital to be renamed as an emergency hospital with enough budgetary allocation to deal fully with all emergency cases.
At both hospitals, the Minister visited the Outpatient Department, Labour, Children, Medical and Emergency Wards and was impressed as doctors were attending to patients.
Source: GNA