MOH CALLS ON GHANA ASSOCIATION OF BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST TO RESCIND DECISION 

The Ministry for Health has no record of having received an invitation from the National Labour Commission as claimed by the Association.

Which has always being the case before we attend on the Commission. Every meeting with the Labour Commission is confirmed in writing by them.

It should be noted that once the Labour Commission is seized on an issue it is illegal for a strike to be called by any group of persons.

The Ministry of Health will work to address any misunderstanding that exist between the Association and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

On the 20th July 2016, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists were invited to appear before the National Labour Commission.

The purpose of the invitation is for the Hon. Minister to explain why the Ministry of Health has not launched three documents which have been prepared by the Ghana Health Service with the support of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

At the meeting, the Hon. Minister of Health asked for a four week grace period to enable him do some more consultation with the two main parties ie the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientist (GABMLS) and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

This request was in view of the entrenched positions being adopted by the parties.

The College is contesting portions of the document making its launch difficult for the Ministry of Health.

The Hon. Minister subsequently constituted a three man management Sub-Committee made of
(i) The Director, HRHD
(ii) The Director, General Administration and
(iii) The Director, Legal to hold further consultations with the parties and report back.

The Subcommittee after discussions with the two parties found out that the parties have taken entrenched positions and recommended that an independent Committee be formed comprising of

(i) A Consultant and representatives from
(ii) Health Service Workers Union ( a Laboratory Scientist )
(ii) The Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and
(iii) The Ministry of Health
Since then, invitations have been sent to the parties to submit nominees to form the Committee.

The decision to form an independent Committee was also discussed with the parties which they agreed to.

It is therefore strange that the Biomedical Laboratory Scientist have decided at this moment to embark on strike.

The Ministry is therefore calling on the Association to rescind its decision and join hands with the Ministry to find a lasting solution to the matter.

Thanks you.

TONY GOODMAN
HEAD, PUBLIC RELATIONS
MINISTRY OF HEALTH