The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has served notice to embark on a series of actions to demand the review of what they describe as the astronomical increment in the Verification Fee paid by nurses and midwives to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana for verification of licenses.
They say that from the 22nd to the 27th of March 2024, their members will be wearing red bands across all health facilities and everywhere that nurses and midwives work.
On 27th March 2024, there is going to be a major press conference. From 28th March to 2nd April 2024 there is going to be a withdrawal of Out-Patient Department Services and on 3rd April 2024, withdrawal of In-Patient and other services.
“These actions have become necessary because, although the GRNMA officially communicated its discontentment about the 445.5% increment in the Verification Fee and requested for review of the amount to an acceptable level more than a week ago, the institutions involved which are the Parliament of Ghana, the Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council are yet to even acknowledge receipt of our letters and to make any effort towards having the GH¢3,000.00 reviewed,” a statement the GRNMA issued on Thursday March 21 said.
All nurses and midwives are expected to fully participate in the above stated actions because it is their right to do so and therefore under no circumstance should they be threatened or coerced, the statement said.
“We wish to reiterate that, considering the current economic challenges and the fact that our salaries are not the best, nurses and midwives of Ghana can only contain a maximum of 25% increment which in our view can be borne by all grades of nurses and midwives.”