Government pharmacists halt strike, restore services

Pharmacies at the Ridge Hospital and the Adabraka Polyclinic were opened on Wednesday to offer services to the public after several weeks of closure.

All government pharmacies in the country have been closed to the public following an indefinite strike action embarked upon by the membership of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists’ Association (GHOSPA) over failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to upgrade their placement on the Single Spine Salary Structure.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the Ridge Hospital and Adabraka Polyclinic in Accra confirmed the restoration of pharmacy services to the public.

However, there was very little patronage due to the limited information to patients of the resumption of services.

Mr Joseph Adjei Tsiase, Deputy Head of Pharmacy, Ridge Hospital, explained to the GNA that the decision to resume their services followed a directive from the leadership of the Association entreating all pharmacists to resume work after reaching a consensus at their national delegates meeting in Accra.

He said while the membership of the Association awaited the report of the sub-Cabinet Committee, they expected all stakeholders to embrace the stages of the process with urgency, openness and the transparency required to ensure equity and fairness in their wages.

Mr Tsiase said most patients were still not aware of the restoration of their services due to the long break and, therefore, they still collected their prescription and went outside to purchase their medications.

He, however, expressed the hope that people would be informed through announcements in the media.

Source: GNA