Physician Assistants Suspend Strike

The Ghana Physician Assistants Association has decided to suspend its strike following a meeting with the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Ministry of Health on August 2.

During the meeting, the NLC issued a 28-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Health to address the concerns raised by the physician assistants who were on strike.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Peter Akuduge Ayamba, the National President of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association, expressed the association’s dissatisfaction with the government’s approach and the delay in addressing their concerns.

“And we are saying that based on the ruling and the intervention of the labour commission and the fact that we are law-abiding citizens and unions for that matter, we are calling on our membership to resume work. Because we are temporarily calling off this strike so that we will explore all other options if by the deadline that has been given by the labour commission nothing is done.”

He added that they would explore other interventions, including their non-renewal position, which they had to abandon due to the intervention of the labour commission. They are also considering the possibility of implementing a work-to-rule policy, which means they will only do what they are supposed to do and nothing more or less.

In another interview with Opemsuo Radio News Reporter, Kwame Adu Gyamfi on August 2, Mr. Joe Paddy, the General Secretary of the Graduate Physicians Association of Ghana (GRAPAG), pointed out that the leadership of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) and the Ghana Health Service were absent from the meeting.

The meeting involved representatives from the National Labour Commission (NLC), Ministry of Health, and some officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

The strike was triggered by an intercepted document proposing an amendment to Act 857 of the Health Professionals Regulatory Bodies Act by the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC).

The association opposes the proposed amendment as it would potentially subject the profession of Physician Assistants to the direction and supervision of a Medical Doctor.

This opposition forms the basis of their current strike action.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso