Laboratory Scientists Embark on Strike

The health of patients in the country is in danger as Medical Laboratory Scientists yesterday embarked on strike following government’s failure to address their key concerns.

The Laboratory Scientists are demanding an increment in salary, creation of a directorate at the Ministry of Health, and support of funds from government.

Speaking on Accra Fm yesterday, Mr. Solomon Kwashie, Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the Ghana Association of Medial Laboratories Scientists (GAMLS), said “We have been cheated since 2011 on the single spine salary structure. Several complains have been made to government, we have been to fair wages and salaries, met some committees yet nothing has been done. Secondly running a medical lab is capital intensive so we want government to support us with funds because we generate a lot of funds.”

He also mentioned that the absence of a directorate at the Ministry of Health has led to exclusion of their members from making decisions that directly affects them.

They are currently embarking on a partial strike which will see their members work from morning till 5pm and run no shift.

Mr. Solomon Kwashie also threatened that they will embark on a full strike on May 28, 2018 if government does not meet their demands.

“We have started a partial strike because we have our patients at heart. Due to that we will work as civil servants from 8am to 5pm everyday up to Monday. We are not working on weekends on any other shifts. On Monday we are going on a full strike,” he said

He therefore called on government to respond to the three key issues they have raised to prevent putting the lives of patients at risk.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum