The striking laboratory scientists have said they are ready to suspend their strike if the government commits to addressing their grievances in a memorandum of understanding.
The group went on strike on Monday to protest salary discrepancies they claim have existed for six years, after the introduction of the Single Spine Pay Policy.
After meeting with the Health Ministry on Tuesday, the group has said the MOU would be a concrete assurance.
The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, yesterday told Parliament he was optimistic the strike would soon be called off.
He described the talks as successful.
But the General Secretary of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS), Michael Amo Omari, said the MOU must be the first step in the process.
“If we put the memorandum of understanding and we all are signed to it with the roadmap, then we will suspend the strike and start the implementation,” he told Citi News.
This strike left hundreds of patients at public hospitals stranded.
The Association has also accused medical superintendents and directors of disrespecting their profession by employing unlicensed personnel.
According to the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists over 90 percent of laboratory processes in public health facilities in Ghana are not controlled, and this threatens the quality or accuracy of lab results churned out.
The Association blames this mainly on the lack of supervision and quality control.
Upset NLC
The National Labour Commission (NLC) said the strike by the members of GAMLS was illegal.
The Executive Secretary of the NLC, Ofosu Asamoah told Citi News the Association failed to exercise the needed patience.
“We invited the Ministry, and we are writing to the Fair Wages Commission to join in. And so they were told that they should suspend any action by way of striking until the matter is fully determined and they agreed, only for them to go back and declare the strike while the matter is still pending.”
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By: Sixtus Dong Ullo/citinewsroom.com/Ghana