Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) across the country are urging its members to embark on full sit-down action over government’s inability to address their conditions of service concerns.
In a press release signed by Dennis Adu-Gyasi, PRO for the association said it could not understand why the Ministry of Health (MoH) had failed to expedite action in setting up an independent three-member committee to look into the launch and implementation of the three national policy documents over which the group embarked on an industrial strike which is totally against the basic tenets of justice and must be rectified immediately to ensure industrial harmony.
The statement observed that, the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu has responded to a call by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to discuss contents of the Memorandum of Understanding that Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) signed with the MoH that enabled the group to suspend the labour unrest carried out on 28th of May 2018. It is instructive to also note that the Hon. Minister for health has since signing the MOU declined to meet with GAMLS in order to demonstrate his commitment to its implementation. All deadlines for actions have so far elapsed.
Read the full statement below
It is with much pain and regrets we inform members of the injustice meted to professionals of and practice of Medical Laboratory Science in Ghana by the Minister and Ministry of Health (MoH).
The Minister of Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu has responded to a call by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to discuss contents of the Memorandum of Understanding that Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) signed with the MoH that enabled the group to suspend the labour unrest carried out on 28th of May 2018.
In an invitation letter that we have sighted and which was signed by the Hon. Minister on 13th June 2018, inviting various heads of agencies to discuss our MOU, it was surprising to note that the GMA, a professional body which has nothing to do with our MOU, was invited while GAMLS, the professional body that is a signatory to the MOU was NOT invited.
This action vindicates the position of GAMLS all along that there have been undercurrent dealings and conspiracies against the training, regulation, growth of our profession and development, and delivery of quality medical laboratory services in Ghana.
Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has reliably intercepted a letter written by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) dated 09th June 2018 to oppose the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) GAMLS signed with the MoH.
GMA, the unseen force that has suppressed and continue to hinder the progress and development of the Medical Laboratory Science practice as a distinct profession in Ghana has finally surfaced resisting the implementation of an MOU we signed with the MoH. GAMLS has written to the Ministry to be officially invited to the meeting that will be held today 20th June 2018 at LA PALM ROYAL BEACH HOTEL at 9:00AM.
Leadership is waiting for the positive response to the letter sent. We admonish members to be ALERT for directions to initiate a SIT DOWN STRIKE that will culminate into reactivation of the industrial action that was suspended on the 2nd of June 2018 in relation to the MOU that professional greed in the health sector is seeking to sink. What is the conspiracy of GMA in the implementation of an MOU that seeks to:
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE (IFBLS) FEDERATION OF AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS (FAAMLS) CLINICAL AND LABORATORY STANDARDS INSTITUTE (CLSI)
- create a Directorate for Medical Laboratory Services for better health care to Ghanaians and
- secure better conditions of service and salary placement for our members when they are already enjoying a good measure of these benefits? GAMLS is questioning the locus of the GMA at a stakeholder forum to discuss our MOU and in addition our exclusion from such a meeting.
- This is totally against the basic tenets of justice and must be rectified immediately to ensure industrial harmony. It is instructive to also note that the Hon. Minister for health has since signing the MOU declined to meet with GAMLS in order to demonstrate his commitment to its implementation. All deadlines for actions have so far elapsed. Once again, Leadership and PR committee appreciates your efforts and contributions
Thank you.
Signed:
Dennis Adu-Gyasi,GAMLS PRO
19th June 2018
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Gyamerah Louis
