Pharmacists threaten strike....

... for delay in migrating them onto SSSS

The northern regional branch of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), has called on the government to finish up the process of migrating its members onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) to forestall an industrial action.

Pharmacist Frank Kumi, Northern Regional Spokesperson of GHOSPA who addressed a press conference in Tamale on Friday, said “We can no longer cope with the slow pace of handling the pharmacists’ issue”.

“We are therefore making a clear call on the government, the Ministry of Health, the national leadership of GHOSPA, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and all stakeholders as a matter of urgency to conclude the migration of all pharmacists onto the SSSS as we have resolved to advise ourselves if nothing is heard from our leaders after July 31, 2012”.

Pharmacist Kumi said that government and hospital pharmacists were the only health professionals still receiving salaries based on the old salary structure.

“This was after a ruling in December 2011 by the National Labour Commission to quickly revert the decision of the FWSC of placing pharmacists on the SSSS due to anomalies and distortions spotted in it”, he stated.

He said, “we are therefore expressing our utmost disgust at the snail pace of resolving these anomalies and distortions” adding, economic plight of the pharmacists based on the old salary structure kept worsening.

Pharmacist Kumi assured that, “as professionals committed to the welfare of the human race, we do not want to disrupt the harmonious health delivery process our clients have been enjoying”.

He therefore entreated the media, chiefs, religious leaders, political commentators and all well-meaning Ghanaians to lend their voice to the call to avert any unpleasant challenges in the health delivery process.**