The MDC has slammed the government for the way in which it has handled the case of striking doctors. The government, through the Health Services Board (HSB) recently suspended 530 junior doctors who had been on strike since December 1.
The suspension of the doctors followed a ruling by the Labour Court that the strike was illegal. The doctors refused to back down and were suspended for a 14 day period. Meanwhile, middle level and senior doctors have also joined the strike in solidarity with the suspended doctors.
MDC spokesperson, Jacob Mafume had this to say
The MDC has learnt with shock that the government has suspended at least 500 medical practitioners. This in the face of an already depleted workforce in respect of which thousands have flocked out in search of greener pastures.
In the United Kingdom alone more than 3 000 Zimbabwean doctors are employed there: way more than the total complement in the motherland.
Issues being raised by the medical practitioners are legitimate and reasonable. The doctors want the ratio between patients and clinical personnel reduced, drugs procured and health facilities improved.
All these are selfless demands meant to save the lives of Zimbabweans yet the government is happy with a cosmetic appearance of doctors at work while unable to save lives let alone serve the patients.
The scare tactics have angered the profession and every other practitioner initially not part of the industrial action has joined in placing the lives of Zimbabweans in even worse risk.
The government must reverse these suspensions forthwith and negotiate in good faith.
Related:
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Parirenyatwa Hospital Turning Patients Away Due to Doctor Strike
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“This makes everything complicated” Doctors Respond To Suspension
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