Following the strike by the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists, Citi News checks at the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Ambulance Service have shown that there has been an increase in referral cases involving obstetrics to other facilities where doctors have specialized in anaesthesia.
A visit to some facilities showed that anaesthetists at some facilities within the Ashanti Region such as Manhyia District Hospital, Ejisu Government Hospital, Juabeng Government Hospital, Effiduase Government Hospital, among others have not been available as some surgical theatres remained closed.
During such instances, cases are referred to other facilities where doctors also specialize in anaesthesia.
Citi News checks at the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Ambulance Service show that facilities, where the anaesthetists have withdrawn their services, refer cases to other facilities where doctors have specialized in anaesthesia such as the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Officials disclosed to Citi News that since 1st February, cases related to obstetrics have been referred from Kumasi South Hospital, Manhyia District Hospital, Aburaso Methodist Hospital, Kwadaso SDA Hospital, Effiduase Government Hospital, Dominase SDA Hospital, Tafo Government Hospital, Suntreso Government Hospital, among others to other facilities where doctors have also specialized in anaesthetists.
The officials say, on 1st February, all four cases that were referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from Kwadaso SDA Hospital, Aburaso Methodist and Manhyia District Hospital were related to obstetrics.
Also, on 2nd February, out of the five cases referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, three were related to obstetrics while one was related to typhoid and the other was related to paediatrics.
On 3rd February, out of seven cases, five were related to obstetrics and on 4th February as at 12 midday, out of seven cases, five were related to obstetrics.
The officials say although most of the cases that are being referred to other facilities may be related to the anesthetists strike, there is no evidence to prove that the referral cases are related to that.
The anesthetists at a press conference on Tuesday stressed that if the Medical and Dental Council does not rescind its decision to change their title to physician assistants, they will continue to embark on strike.
The group on Friday, 31st January declared a strike over the decision of the Medical and Dental Council to classify them as physician assistants.
According to them, they are worried about the change in title because being called physician assistants will reduce their bargaining power and subsequently affect their career progression.
Speaking at a news conference in Kumasi, the National President of the Association, James Nwinsagra noted that they want the decision to change their title to physician assistants to be reversed as they believe it will affect their bargaining power to help them in their career progression.
“I think it is for one reason that we work; for better remunerations. Attaching assistant to my name will limit my scope and my power of bargaining. We are ready. We will resist it today and resist it tomorrow. Whether they like it or not, the truth must be told,” he said.
He further called on the Christian Health Association of Ghana and other stakeholders under the Ministry of Health to intervene to help resolve the matter.
“The Director-General of Ghana Health Service who has only ten other regional professional anaesthetists rendering anaesthesia rather than the Certified Registered Anesthetists (CRA) is silent. The medical directors and the administrator of the Christian Health Association of Ghana institutions that have no other than the Certified Registered Anesthetists are quiet and unfortunately are even trying to prevent them from joining the industrial action.”
He added that the group is willing to have deliberations with all relevant stakeholders on the matter. He, however, insisted that they will not compromise when it comes to fighting to get things that would be in their best interest.