Government Pharmacists declare nationwide strike

The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) have announced that their members have withdrawn their services to out-patients effective today, Monday August 3.

GHOSPA said they have decided to take this action due to the failure of the Finance Ministry to address their grievances by migrating them unto the Single Spine Salary Structure despite a directive by the Chief of Staff, almost a year ago.

“It is regrettable that since 8th August 2014 when the Chief of Staff directed the Ministry of Finance to implement the road map for resolving the salary grievances of pharmacists in the public sector, following a Sub Cabinet Committee report.

“However, the Finance Ministry has demonstrated a clear unwillingness to carry out the directive,” the statement from GHOSPA said.

The statement added “…unless and until we receive an express undertaking for the execution of the Chief of Staff’s directive, we will not return to work. We want to reiterate that, this well-thought-out recommended action has come from the membership who have patiently waited.”