The Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA) has referred to as on the Ministry of Health to create a separate regulatory Council for Certified Registered Anaesthetists in Ghana.
The GACRA stated regardless of a number of complains in regards to the unfair remedy from its present regulator, the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) of Ghana, the Association’s quest to have a separate regulatory physique had yielded no outcomes.
The Association, by its President, James Nwisangra, made the decision at its fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific session in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
The AGM, chaired by the Tongraan, Naab Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, was on the theme: “Sustaining the practice of Anaesthesia in Ghana amidst the brain drain; policy direction and regulation.”
The assembly afforded the Association the chance to take inventory and stock of its programme of actions, mirror over their efficiency, establish their achievements, shortfalls and to enhance on their vital contribution to healthcare supply in Ghana.
Mr Nwisangra stated for the reason that enactment of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 857, amongst different points, their regulator had refused to acknowledge the identify; Certified Registered Anaesthetists (CRA).
Apart from that, he famous that the regulator additionally bluntly refused to open a separate register for the CRA and, due to this fact, appealed to the Ministry to create a separate Council for them.
“GACRA needs to humbly request the Ministry to create a separate regulatory Council for CRAs, due to this fact, calling for modification of Act 857. The modification ought to take CRAs out of the MDC and place us in a greater regulatory framework.
“CRAs are committed to carrying out their duties in a free and peaceful working and regulatory environment,” the Association’s President stated.
Mr Nwisangra additional bemoaned the “wrongful placement” of CRAs on the Single Spine Salary Structure, particularly these on the district ranges usually overburdened with workload and frequent calls at evening to take care of emergency circumstances.
He introduced to members that the Ministry of Health had directed the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to assessment their wage placement and referred to as on the FWSC and the employer to hurry up the method, saying “We have been shortchanged for far too long.”
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, in a speech learn on his behalf, famous that the Ministry acquired a number of issues from the GACRA and was working to have them addressed.
On the difficulty of regulation, he stated the Ministry was participating with key stakeholders to make sure that they acquired their regulatory physique to observe inside a framework that will enhance their profession as professionals.
The Sector Minister acknowledged that the magnitude of labor executed by the CRAs doesn’t match their present placement on the wage construction, and because of this, the Ministry had formally communicated to the FWSC to undertake a job re-evaluation to right the location of the CRAs on the wage scale.
Mr Agyeman-Manu famous that poor circumstances of service was one of many main issues CRAs confronted, and stated processes have been underway to have it resolved.
“As a part of the Ministry’s need for an improved Conditions of Service for the CRAs, FWSC and all different stakeholders have been put collectively to make sure a profitable completion of the method.
“In addition, the Ministry wishes to assure GACRA that, the 2021 batch of students who have successfully completed both professional and their license examinations would be converted as soon as possible,” he stated.
The Minister, who can also be the Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central within the Bono Region, appealed to executives of the GACRA and its whole membership to proceed to interact the Ministry and its stakeholders on their issues for redress.
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