The government has acknowledged that healthcare workers, including nurses and doctors, are underpaid and often forced to work and live in difficult, sometimes squalid conditions.
This admission came on Friday, 16 May, during a visit by Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
The minister met with staff to listen to their concerns and assess the state of the hospital first-hand.
He was joined by his deputy, Sleiman Kwidini, the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Aspect Maunganidze, and other senior government officials.
Speaking to the media after addressing hospital staff, ranging from nurses and doctors to senior executives, Mombeshora said the government was fully aware of the challenges they are facing. He said:
What they are earning is not enough. They are facing transport challenges, accommodation challenges.
They also raised some issues concerning their workplace environment. So we are looking at how we can deal with the challenges and allowances to make sure that we can improve their earnings.
Mombeshora said the meeting was prompted by a report he got from the Secretariat of Health and Welfare, which is based at Parirenyatwa Hospital. He said:
They presented their needs to the Chief Medical Officer and also to their sub-secretary. However, I felt there was inadequate communication, which is why I decided to meet with them directly, as I have an open-door policy and talk to everyone, regardless of rank.
Not that I didn’t trust what I was told, but I also wanted to hear their concerns first-hand. It’s my pleasure to be here.
I am glad we are able to have this discussion. Their concerns are very genuine. We want to work towards addressing this matter.
Mombeshora urged health workers not to air their frustrations on social media, but instead to make use of his ministry’s open-door policy to raise any issues so they can be properly dealt with.
As a short-term fix for the accommodation crisis, he said the ministry is planning to build flats for healthcare staff at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where there’s enough space for such a project.
He added that the longer-term goal is to eventually provide individual houses for healthcare workers.
He also said the Health Service Commission is working on improving salaries for medical staff.
However, Mombeshora pointed out that most of the workers’ concerns will likely be addressed in the upcoming Mid-Term Budget review by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Mthuli Ncube.
More: The Herald
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