The Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG), has called on the government to provide an equal response to the condition of service of all health workers unions.
In a communique, the Association accused the government of prolonging the delay in revising the condition of service of some sections of health workers while responding rapidly to others and described the action as unfair.
The communique was released at the end of the 44th annual general meeting and Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programme held in Kumasi on the theme: “Effective Management of Supportive Services during Pandemics; The role of health service administrators.”
According to the communique made available to the Ghana News Agency, the treatment from the government “is discriminatory and constitutes unfair labour practice with negative consequences on the morale and performance of the affected staff.”
It, therefore, called on the government to provide fair treatment of the condition of service of all health workers.
However, it applauded the government for continuing with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which has made it possible for access to better healthcare and improved productivity.
“Even so, issues of conflict of interest and lack of transparency in the handling of claim dispute between the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the health service providers must be carefully addressed,” it stated.
“We call on the Ministry of Health to establish a statutory body to adjudicate NHIS claim disputes as a matter of priority for fairness to prevail.”
The communique pointed out activities and projects such as the construction of a mechanized borehole to support the fight against COVID-19 in health facilities.
“It is in this spirit that AHSAG constructed and handed over a mechanized borehole and ancillary facilities to the Atwima-Akropong Polyclinic in the Ashanti Region to address perennial water shortage at the facility,” it stated.
The communique pledged the commitment of AHSAG to the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project (EPRP) by the Ministry of Health to eliminate COVID-19 in the country
It entreated all stakeholders in the health sector to strengthen the national system for addressing public health emergencies in the country.
While commending efforts made by the government to contain the pandemic through nationwide vaccination, it said, “However, the slow pace of vaccination due to inadequate access to vaccines under the COVAXX Facility is deeply worrying.”
The Association urged health facilities and the public to intensify the practice of COVID-19 preventive protocols to help fight the virus.
