Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Ghana (Ratification: 1986)

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Policy concerning nursing services and personnel. The Committee understands that a new Human Resources Strategic Plan for the Health Sector was adopted covering the period 2007–11. It requests the Government to provide a copy of this document, and to keep the Office informed of any progress made in the implementation of the policies and strategies set out therein.

Article 2, paragraph 2(b). Employment and working conditions of nursing personnel. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning its efforts to address the issue of health workers’ migration through various initiatives, such as the MIDA Ghana Health Project, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), or the adoption of the Single Spine Salary Structure, a unified pay structure for different categories of public sector workers.

With respect to the MIDA Ghana Health Project, the Committee understands that its third phase was launched in June 2008 for a duration of four years, which aims at facilitating 150 temporary returns of health professionals working overseas, ten interns sent abroad and at facilitating long-term returns of health workers, with a view to taking advantage of the available skills, expertise and experience of migrant Ghanaian health professionals, contributing to the capacity building of health workers in Ghana and to building cooperation between Ghana and the recipient countries. It also notes the Government’s indication that the project, during its previous phase from January 2005 to March 2008, has achieved, among others, 66 temporary returns, 75 migrant professionals registered in Ghana, five interns sent to Europe and 7,264 health workers trained. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of the progress made during the third phase of the MIDA Ghana Health Project.

With respect to the Single Spine Pay Policy, while understanding that the pay structure involves the increase in wages of 16.5 and 34 per cent, the Committee asks the Government to explain how organizations of health professionals, especially those of nursing personnel such as the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) or the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), or consultative bodies such as the Nurses and Midwives Council, were involved in the process of adoption of the Single Spine Salary Structure, and how it is ensured that the unification of pay structure under the Single Spine Salary Structure does not affect public sector workers, especially nursing personnel workers, to their disadvantage.

The Committee notes other efforts made with respect to controlling the brain drain of Ghanaian health professionals, such as those by the GRNA to restrict health workers who have not served for five years from being verified to work overseas. It requests the Government to continue monitoring the situation of health professionals migrating overseas and to keep the Office informed on this point, as well as any measures taken or envisaged to respond to this issue.

Article 3, paragraph 1. Education and training of nursing personnel. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the number of enrolments to the nursing and midwifery training schools, which indicates a constant increase during the period 2004–07. On the other hand, it notes that the total number of nurses and midwives registered by the Nurses and Midwives Council continue to decrease during the same period. It would appreciate if the Government could explain the reasons for this decrease.

Article 5, paragraph 2. Negotiated determination of conditions of employment of nursing personnel. The Committee notes the indication by the Government that the GRNA currently registers no collective bargaining agreements. It requests the Government to provide a copy of collective bargaining agreements registered with the Health Service Workers’ Union under the Ghana Trades Union Congress, as it is not yet made available to the Office.

Article 7. Occupational safety and health of nursing personnel. The Committee notes a copy of the National Workplace HIV/AIDS Policy and the Annual Programme of Work 2008 of the Ghana AIDS Commission. In particular, it notes that these documents do not appear to contain policies or programmes specifically targeting nursing personnel. While noting the Government’s explanation that the policy is of general applicability, thereby covering nursing personnel as well, the Committee ventures to request the Government to consider having specific policies or programmes as part of the abovementioned policy and programme, since particular protection is required for nursing personnel, who work directly with patients with HIV/AIDS.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government concerning the number of nurses and their ratio to the population and the evolution in the number of female nursing personnel who have applied for the verification of their registration, which is normally considered as the manifestation of their intent to work abroad. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue supplying up to date information and documents concerning the practical application of the Convention.