The government has so far fired 448 junior and middle-level doctors, with more disciplinary hearings set to be conducted for doctors at provincial hospitals and senior doctors.
This was revealed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during Tuesday’s post-cabinet media briefing. She said:
The (Health) Minister informed cabinet that 508 disciplinary hearings of doctors that have not been coming to work have so far been held, out of which 448 doctors were found guilty.
It will be recalled that from the previous report, 435 doctors had been discharged and since then, an additional 13 doctors have been found guilty and discharged, making a cumulative total of 448 discharged.
Junior and middle-level doctors at public hospitals have been on strike since the 3rd of September this year demanding better pay and an improved working environment.
On Tuesday, senior doctors also joined the strike, demanding that the government reinstate those who were fired as well as addressing their grievances.