The government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said that it will withhold salaries and allowances for doctors who continue with the strike. The doctors have been on strike for the past three weeks protesting against poor working conditions, inadequate allowances and lack of essential drugs and equipment. A circular written by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Major General Gerald Gwinji reads,
RE: CESSATION OF SALARY AND ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS WHO PROCEED ON ANY TYPE OF LEAVE WITHOUT AUTHORISED LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Reference is made to the above subject matter.
The withdrawal of services by some doctors entered its 20th day on the 20th of March 2018. Heads of institutions are duly reminded of the provisions of PSC Circular number 18 of 2000 referenced C/260 which states that all heads of Offices, Heads of Departments and Heads of Ministries are directed to cease salary and allowances for members who absent themselves from duty without authorised leave of absence.
The salary and allowances should be ceased immediately on the 14th day of continuous absence from duty by advising the Salary Service Bureau directly. A copy of the PSC circular is attached for ease of reference.
However, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association appears unmoved by the government’s latest position and accused the ministry of threatening doctors after negotiating in bad faith. The official account of the ZHDA tweeted,
The issue is about increasing allowances and procurement of drugs and equipment. Drs WILL REMAIN ON STRIKE until the ministry is willing to come to the negotiating table, and coming with good intentions.
ZHDA president Mxolisi Ngwenya added,
This circular does not change the position of doctors and does not solve the issues that we are raising like shortages of drugs in hospitals and they are not paying us enough so that we can attend to patients … We are definitely not going back to work up until a point in time when they stop using the media and reactions of people on the circulars that they are using to threaten them to try and solve issues instead of facing the reality that hospitals have no drugs and doctors are underpaid and overworked.
Also Read:
Doctors Vow To Continue With Strike, Say We Did Not Agree To Get 50% Of $1.50, Claim Parirenyatwa Is Lying
We Will Not Return To Work Until Govt Supplies Drugs, Equipment, Minister Is Insincere: Doctors
Nurses Call Off Strike, Say They Have Patients’ Welfare At Heart, Accuse Govt Of Insincerity
Good, the doctors should strike for one year. The government thinks it’s a joke. Show them you mean business. The general populace should join in and hound the government for lack of services
Munyai what happened to you brain. When you critically get ill you will realise that a strike can take you to the grave
In love of our fellow citizens who are sick I condemn this strike. Its not bad to negotiate but if negotiations are causing people to die then ????
Where would the increament come from when there are no companies to generate foreign currency/revenue generation . Should we not wait for elections so that doors will get opened for investors to come.
You want to earn for which pocket. Why do doctorswhat to harvest during ploughing season. I beg you doctors to wait for harvest time.