Biomedical lab scientists begin strike today

Over three thousand members of the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS) will lay down their tools beginning today [Monday].

The strike has been called, to get government to implement the National Health Laboratory policy immediately, in order to help raise the quality of laboratory science practice in the country.

Last week the association accused the Health Minister, Alex Segbefia of not showing up at a meeting which was to address the stalled implementation of the policy.

The General Secretary for the association, Michael Amoh Omari told Citi News, they believe the strike, will cause the ministry to be committed to solving their issues.

“We have that about 3,000 of which out of this 2,000 are in the public sector. The strike will come on, all our staff all over the country will withdraw their services. The only option is that we will put few staff at the blood bank to attend to maternal and certain cases for Monday. If nothing concrete comes out, then from Wednesday, the blood bank will also join in the full strike,” he added.

Omari also noted that they are taking such decision because they don’t want to be taken for granted.

“We are realizing that because we have always taken the gradual stage, those who matter think other groups have higher muscle than us so they will not listen to us. This strike is to tell the Ministry to be committed to solving the problem.”

A separate statement signed by Dennis Adu-Gyasi, Public Relations officer of the association said government current position on the matter is not the best.

“It is evident in the unfolding events that the MOH has not shown any interest to resolve our matter and have no option than to follow through the roadmap proffered by congress to lay down our tools if we don’t see any concrete evidence of the three policy documents being launched. It is in the light of the commitment of leadership to the congress decision that we have declared to embark on an indefinite industrial strike action effective 22nd August 2016,” the statement added.

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonilne.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin