Update on Strike: Doctors refusing to budge until they have proof of new posts and all conditions are met

Today marked the third day of the doctor’s strike which started on Wednesday the 15th of February, 2017.  The strike seems to have intensified as senior doctors from the department of obstetrics and gynaecology also joined the strike, say they would only resume their duties after the return of junior doctors due to the overwhelming nature of their work.  The paediatrician ward at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has also been closed until the strike is over.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has said that doctors will be continuing with their strike until they have proof that the 250 posts which the government has claimed to have created actually exist.  They also said that they are not returning to work until the government keeps its word, and honours a 2014 promise to increase their on-call allowances to $720 per month. The doctors a;lso want the government to provvide them with a facility to import vehicles into the country.

A letter from the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association reads:

ZIMBABWE HOSPITAL DOCTORS ASSOCIATION
TO: THE PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
Cc: THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
:THE HEALTH SERVICES BOARD

17 FEBRUARY 2017

RE: UPDATE ON THE DOCTORS STRIKE

The ZHDA would like to inform you that following wide consultations with its membership on the way forward the following has been agreed upon.

1. There is need for concrete evidence on the GMO/HMO posts that have been created. The membership expressed deep concern about lack of documentary evidence of the created posts including treasury concurrence. The membership notes that a document has been shown to some members but no copy has been availed to the association for filing.
2.  The membership made it explicitly clear that the other two issues have to be given the same PriOritY with creation of posts. 3. The membership resolved that they will not resume their normal duties until the government honors its 2014 agreement of increasing the on call allowance to $720 per month and availing of a vehicle duty-free facility

 The ZHDA wishes to state that its membership remains committed to serving the nation of Zimbabwe as soon as these issues are resolved.

ZHDA NATION