The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Ghana Medical Council (GMA), Health Service Workers Union (HSWU) of TUC, and Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOPSA) has issued a joint press release to reject a welfare scheme to be implemented by Ghana Health Service.
According to the joint release on 11th May 2021, Ghana Health Service (GHS) which is the largest Agency under the Ministry of Health has decided to implement a staff welfare association that seek to provide supplementary medical benefits for specified medical illness that are not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme. The proposed source of funding will be 1% of employees’ basic salary which the unions and associations find unacceptable because all unions in the health sector have signed a Collective Agreements with the Employer which stipulates that the Employer shall provide healthcare services to the employee.
Moreover, Employees of Ghana Health Service contribute 2.5% of their monthly basic salary towards the National Health Scheme without any additional benefits under the NHIS by virtue of their status as essential service providers.
The joint association recommended that the Ghana Health service find an alternate source of funding for the welfare scheme and not touch the salary of any workers basic salary. Workers are also strongly advised to desist from enrolling on GHS Welfare Association.
