The Masvingo General Hospital, which has a capacity of nine doctors, has only three comprising of a Zimbabwean and two Cubans. Zimbabwe has lost most of its doctors to neighbouring countries and overseas because of political turmoil and a poor economy. In an interview with The Zimbabwean, the doctors said: We are being treated as outcasts. The Ministry should know that we are professionals. They (Ministry of Health and Child Welfare) should realise our importance. We are serving the people of Zimbabwe under extremely bad conditions. Our status as doctors should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It is painful that we are working for nothing. Its either we are not paid or the salaries come after three months. We are now living like beggars. There are some concerned people who are assisting us with their personal resources. We are being looked after by well-wishers yet we are professionals, the doctors said.
In response, the Permanent Secretary for The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Gerald Gwinji said: The delays in paying their salaries are being caused by some challenges within the payroll system. They are not paid as expatriate personnel because they are here on a government to government agreement.Their salaries do not come late. But, maybe they are talking of their retention allowances, which I admit come late. The conditions of their salaries are negotiated by their government (Cuba). The government salaries do not come late, they come early every month. So I do not know why they are saying their salaries come late, he said. He admitted that the departure of the Cuban doctors would leave a huge gap at the hospital.
Post published in: News