Association of Certified Anaesthetists threaten to embark on strike action in January 2022
Another labour unrest is the offing next year for the government and this time around, it is the Ghana Association of Certified Anesthetists who have threatened to halt the performance of surgeries if the government does not set up a council to address the concerns of its members.
The group has also decided to break away from the Medical and Dental Council stating that the council was not competent enough.
The immediate past president of the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists confirmed the group’s intention by stating that members of the association will not renew their membership with the Medical and Dental Council next year in a bid to draw the government’s attention to their concerns.
“The purpose for which the Council was created has been defeated. The Council only takes money from us to renew our certificates and that ends it. The council is not interested in our wellbeing in any way.”
“We are not going to renew our certificates with the Medical and Dental Council, and we expect the Ministry of Health to quickly set up a Council to address our issues. We need the Ministry to do this by January next year, else we will be forced to withdraw our services.”
The legislature, through the amendment of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 857; changed their names from Physician Assistants-Anaesthesia to Certified Registered Anaesthetists and ordered the Medical and Dental Council to apply the necessary conditions of service.
Also, the association raised issues such as the act of Parliament being silent on the progression of their career and management opportunities for its members.
It added that the Medical and Dental Council’s approach of introducing a new curriculum for their training in a bid to change the already existing Bachelor of Science in Anaesthesia to Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant violates the Health Professionals Regulatory Bodies Act 857 (ACT 2013)
Anaesthetists are advanced practice nurses who administer anaesthesia for surgical procedures. They also collaborate with other health professionals to ensure safe administration of anaesthesia and also ensure medical procedures are done without pain.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
