Laboratory scientists down tools

Some members of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) have begun a nationwide strike to back their demands for the launch of the National Health Laboratory Policy (NHLP) by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

In view of the strike which started yesterday, patients would not have access to biomedical services such as laboratory testing, blood bank, diagnostic and mortuary services. 

The NHLP, among other things, made provision for addressing key issues that related to the improvement of the quality of health care by laboratory technicians, human resource management, procurement of the right reagents and building the right infrastructure.

The document also outlines modalities for handling biosecurity in the laboratory, achieving reliable results at the hospitals and surveillance during outbreaks of medical conditions.

The association said even though it had received correspondence from the National Labour Commission (NLC) ordering it to abort the industrial action, its members would not return to work until their demands had been met.

But the NLC says it will go to court to compel members of the association to resume work.

The Public Affairs Officer of the NLC, Mrs Charlotte Hanson, told the Daily Graphic that the commission was going to ensure that the association complied with the law.

At a news conference to declare the strike in Accra yesterday, the President of the association, Mr Ignatius Abowini Nchor Awinibiino, said the failure of the MoH to launch the document amounted to a breach of trust.

According to him, processes began in 2009 to roll out documents on the NHLP, including the National Accreditation Policy (NAP) and the National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (NHLSP), but the lack of commitment by the MoH had stalled the process.

Mr Abowini said the association was aware of the dire consequences its action could cause the public but was quick to add that the decision to go on strike was in the interest of the public.

Solidarity

The President of the Association of Private Medical Laboratories (APML), Dr Alexander Martin Odoom, said the association was in support of their counterparts in the public sector and that its members would join the strike today.

Visit to hospitals

When the Daily Graphic visited the Central Laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital around 1 p.m, the place had been deserted. Pieces of information picked up indicated that some of the patients who came there earlier in the day were turned away by the management of the centre.

Empty seats at the Korle Bu central laboratory

The Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH branch of GAMLS), Deputy Chief Biomedical Scientist (BMS), David Anafu, explained that the decision of the centre to close its doors to the public was in response to the decision of the national body.

“We are only attending to clients who were here last Sunday and who paid for their services,” he said.

The situation at the Ridge Hospital was different from that of the KBTH as clients were being attended to at the laboratory.

Kumasi

Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports from Kumasi that members of the association in the Ashanti Region had laid down their tools until further notice in response to the call by the national executive.

At the Kuntenanse Hospital, Mr Benjamin Nii-Quaye-Kotey told the Daily Graphic that contrary to the perception out there, the strike was not about money but rather seeking the well-being of patients and also protecting the profession.

The situation was the same at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Although the staff had reported for work, they were not working.

NLC directive

A directive to the GAMLS, dated August 17, 2016, restrained the members from embarking on the strike because they were essential service providers.

The directive, which was also addressed to the MoH and the Ghana Health Service, among other things, asked the ministry to furnish the commission with an update on the steps taken to resolve the grievances of the association since the last sitting on July 20, 2016.

Reacting to the action by the association, the Public Relations Officer of the MoH, Mr Tony Goodman, said the strike came as a surprise to the ministry as negotiations were ongoing to resolve the grievances.