The ongoing strike by members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) is significantly disrupting healthcare services across the country. Reports indicate that both public and some private health facilities have been affected, with long queues, limited access to basic care, and thousands of patients stranded.
This disruption follows the failure of a high-level emergency meeting held on Monday, June 9, between the Ministry of Health, GRNMA leadership, and other stakeholders. Despite efforts to reach a resolution, the discussions reportedly ended without agreement.
In response to the worsening situation, the government has pledged to continue dialogue with the nurses to achieve a mutually acceptable outcome that protects public health. The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured that the government remains committed to this goal.
To manage the crisis in the interim, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission have been directed to urgently develop a roadmap for the implementation of revised conditions of service for nurses and midwives. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health is preparing to publish a list of alternative healthcare facilities where patients can access services during the strike.
The Health Minister has also reportedly called on retired nurses and midwives to return to service temporarily. He explained that this appeal was made to alleviate the burden on the health system and assist patients affected by the ongoing industrial action. He noted that the government was appealing to public-spirited retirees to volunteer their expertise until the dispute is resolved.
The call for retirees to step in comes as the nationwide strike intensifies, following the GRNMA’s outright rejection of the government’s proposal to delay the implementation of newly agreed conditions of service until 2026. It is this proposed deferment that triggered the current strike, which has now entered a critical phase without a clear resolution in sight.
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