As the strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) escalated into a full-blown work stoppage on June 9, the Ministry of Health has urgently appealed to retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their services to help ease the strain on the healthcare system.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced this initiative today as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of the strike on Ghanaian patients.
Retired nurses called to the frontline
In a press briefing addressing the ongoing industrial action, Minister Akandoh emphasized the critical role that retired health professionals can play during this challenging period. “Given the urgency of the situation and the suffering of patients, the government is appealing to public-spirited retired nurses and midwives to volunteer their service for a brief period pending the resolution of the impasse,” he said.
To further alleviate the pressure on healthcare delivery, Mr. Akandoh said the Ministry of Health will soon publish a comprehensive list of health facilities that will complement those where nursing services are currently lacking. This measure is intended to guide patients toward accessible centers where they can receive timely medical attention despite the ongoing disruption.
Implications on demands on budget
Minister Akandoh also addressed the financial implications of the nurses’ demands, which include conditions not accounted for in the current national budget.
“The conditions as requested were not captured in the budget and implementing it now will throw the economy off,” he warned.
“It will completely throw the economy off gear if it is implemented in the manner, it currently exists. We are mindful of the serious economic consequences of unbudgeted expenditures and want to avoid the economic slippages that led to the hardships in the recent past,” he elaborated.
Despite the firm position on budgetary constraints, the government remains committed to engaging with the GRNMA to reach a mutually acceptable solution. “We are working around the clock to resolve the impasse and are dedicated to dialogue in the interest of the public,” Mr. Ankandoh affirmed.
