The striking junior doctors have refused to be ‘intimidated’ by the government by submitting to a disciplinary hearing.
Today, doctors’ representatives met the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa at State House in a bid to resolve the impasse.
Zimbabwe Medical Doctors Association (ZMDA) spokesperson, Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe told 263Chat that the striking doctors will attend the disciplinary hearings only after their demands have been met. Bhebhe had this to say:
None of our members attended the hearings today, they were all in the comfort of their homes because they are on industrial action. They cannot go to work when their issues are not met.
The problem is that the government is failing to attend to our most critical demands which range from improved working conditions where we need adequate supplies of medication.
We need our salaries to be paid in US Dollars and until that has been addressed, you will not see us at work. We demand that the Ministry of Health and Childcare pay our salaries in full and in foreign currency.
On reports that the striking doctors have decided to end the strike, Bhebhe said that the reports by state media are misleading:
We have seen state media reports which are insinuating that the doctors will go back to work after meeting the First Lady that is all lies.
Of course, some of our members met the First Lady but there was no consensus the position remains the same, we are not going back to work.
The First Lady promised to take our grievances to the relevant authorities because the information was being distorted, so we will see how it goes.
Related:
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Striking Doctors Confirm Meeting First Lady, Say Compromises Are Made After Nationwide Consultations
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Senior Doctors No Longer Treating Emergency Cases As Impasse With Govt Continues
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