Volta doctors issue veiled threat over salary

Ho, May 11, GNA - The Volta Regional Division of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), on Monday said it could not "fathom its reaction" if ongoing salary revision fail to take into account the four-year lull in salaries for doctors. The members said they completely associated themselves with developments in the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and that the fuel allowance be paid to all doctors including those in the Volta Region".

These were contained in statement signed by Dr Gafatsi Normanyo, chairman of the group, after its quarterly meeting in Ho on Saturday. It said "We consider the on-going salary review negotiations as long over due and support the mood for a quick decider contrary to which we cannot fathom our reactions". The statement suggested that the payment of fuel allowance be based on responsibility and not a blanket fixed amount and that car maintenance allowance payments frozen for some time be revived or doctors might find it difficult to continue to attend to emergency cases. It called for a quick resolution of the delays associated with reimbursements under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which were crippling the health facilities.

The statement said the association's stance was prompted by difficulties associated with doctors having to buy their own cars, maintain and fuel them for duty when their salaries have not been reviewed for four years now. It said members were baffled by the "nebulous ex-gratia awards" to some other workers. The statement said doctors were unhappy "rendering special service without the necessary conditions of service for years" which exposed them to "emotionally disturbing conditions with "associated hazards."