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Doctors and nurses deny calling off strike
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
January 04, 2008

Visit the index of articles on the doctors' and nurses' strikes

The president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, Amon Siveregi, has denied state media reports that they have called off their strike action. Speaking to Newsreel Siveregi said some doctors had gone back to work but the majority remain on strike for better pay. He said about 40 percent of the doctors had gone back to work to alleviate the plight of suffering patients. He said they are half way through negotiations but no deal has been reached so far. 'It's true that some doctors are turning up for work on humanitarian grounds, that doesn't mean the strike is over,' Siveregi said.

The state media claimed that nurses, together with other civil servants, had received an additional Z$100 million on top of their December salaries. It further claimed that several health workers interviewed had confirmed the money was reflecting in their accounts and because of this doctors and nurses had gone back to work. However it turns out the money has been offered as loans repayable at 5 percent interest. The doctors and nurses have rejected the offer.

Siveregi said no solution is in site so far and they will only call off the strike depending on the progress of negotiations with the Health Services Board (HSB) under the ministry. Some reports suggest the ministry has no money and is still waiting for a response from the treasury on whether they will be awarded any extra funds to meet any increases.

Doctors and nurses went on strike last week demanding better pay and working conditions. Junior doctors are earning Z$40 million a month while nurses earn Z$15 million. So far Parirenyatwa and Harare Hospitals are the most affected. Outpatient departments at the two hospitals are still closed while student nurses try to deal with emergency cases only. The government has responded by deploying army medical personnel to some of the hospitals, but this has hardly helped.

The latest strike, plus government's reluctance to prioritise funding the health system, means more and more doctors and nurses will leave for greener pastures in neighbouring countries - and the sick will continue to suffer.

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