NPP whips Mills over doctors’ strike

The New Patriotic Party is asking President Mills to “take personal ownership and leadership” of the ongoing strike by doctors at public hospitals.

A statement issued by the National Chairman of the NPP, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey appealing to the doctors “to alleviate somewhat the suffering of Ghanaians by de-escalating the strike to allow for the treatment of emergency and urgent cases”, also quoted acting Minister of Health, Haruna Iddrisu as saying “communication between the Ghana Medical Association and The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has broken down.”

“This is not the first time doctors have felt compelled to strike. Almost invariably, previous doctor’s strikes have followed breakdowns in communication and what doctor’s perceive as examples of bad faith by their employer.

“In this instance a President who promised a time for the implementation of the single spine salary, cannot, months later, when the time for that implementation arrives produce an excuse that his government was left no money by his predecessor for him to redeem his promises.”

The statement said it is only the President, supported by his Minister of Finance and Economic Planning who can meet with the doctors and re-establish a level of credibility that will allow the doctors to believe any further promises they are given.

“We call upon the President to move quickly and end this continuing threat to the health of the people,” it said.