Health crisis must be given more urgent priority - CPP

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) views the escalation of the strike action by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) with grave concern, as it has immediate  impact on the sick and particularly the poor in our society who may not be able to afford private medical care.

“We also recognise their often dedicated and selfless service to the people of Ghana makes it imperative  for government  to convene a meeting and set a time for concluding discussions and coming to an agreement”.

In a statement, the Communications Director of the CPP, Nii Armah Akomfrah, urged the government to desist from any threatening or inflammatory language and avoid any media war.

“We trust that the government, GMA the NLC, FWSC and other interested parties will get behind closed doors and work speedily to find a resolution to ensure the continued well-being of our people,” the CPP stated.

It said numerous appeals had been made to the GMA by individuals and institutions, with little demand on the government about its responsibility to also do more to end the strike.

Unfortunately, the CPP said, the strike had now been escalated with all the attendant impact on the sick and the poor in our society.

“The situation is now at crisis point and must be treated as such, for those who lose their lives most certainly cannot be brought back,” the statement added, and pleaded with the GMA and doctors to reconsider their decision  to stop “attending to emergency cases“ on humanitarian grounds.

“We are happy that discussions between the GMA, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the TUC  and government had progressed, but it is time for compulsory arbitration and urgent resolution on the remaining issues including pensions and conversion  differences,” the CPP stated.

It said the expectation from all Ghanaians was that the arbitration procedure must now be continuous until a solution was found.

“The meeting of all interested parties must take place at a suitable  conference venue and all must commit to stay at the table for as long as it takes until agreement is reached,” the CPP advised.