NLC drags striking doctors to Supreme Court

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has dragged the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to the Supreme Court to force doctors to call off their strike with immediate effect and comply with the NLC’s ruling.

Striking doctors on Monday intensified their strike by withdrawing all emergency services until their concerns are fully addressed.

Doctors across the country resorted to the NLC, seeking to overturn an earlier payment scheduled instituted by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

According to the schedule, doctors will be paid in three tranches the 2012 arrears owed them and the payment will begin in May 2013.

The May payment will comprise arrears for January 2012 to April 2012. The second payment due in July will comprise arrears for May 2012 to September 2012 whilst the final payment due in September 2013 will comprise arrears of September 2012 to December 2012.

The doctors, however, became angry with the upholding of the schedule by the NLC and refused to comply with the order.

But the NLC in a copy of their affidavits to the Supreme Court wants the court to order the striking doctors to comply with the order and call off its strike with immediate effect.

What do you think about the doctors' strike? Read Dr Boateng's GhanaWeb health blog on the recent strikes here