Zimbabwe doctors went on strike beginning October 27, 2014 demanding improved working conditions that include free accommodation at government owned flats, duty free vehicle imports and a salary review from the current 282 dollars per month excluding allowances to 1 200 dollars.
The job action started by junior doctors has since been joined by senior doctors and cascaded to district hospitals.
Edington Mugova, founder and coordinating officer for Zimbabwe Reveal for Generations, has called on government to be sensitive to the plight of the medical doctors who earn salaries far below the poverty datum line now estimated at over 520 dollars.
Mugova said the doctors were exercising their constitutional right by peacefully demanding better working conditions.
“Academics and professionals like doctors continue earning salaries less than half the poverty datum line while government goes out of its way to please members in the security sector.
“Some individuals in the police and army earn huge salaries at the expense of professionals who dedicated long years of their lives studying to serve the nation,” said Mugova, urging government to address issues raised by the striking doctors as a matter of urgency.
Mugova said government should not drag its feet and allow the strike to spread across all professions.
Zimbabwe, Mugova said, cannot afford to lose lives as a result of the strike which cannot be brought to an end through simple reasoning.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust expressed concern at what it described as unnecessary loss of lives at Chitungwiza Central Hospital and other hospitals across the country as a result of the job action.
In a statement released today, Chitrest called on the striking doctors and other stakeholders to consider the sanctity of life and the plight of the suffering majority who cannot afford to engage private doctors, especially under the prevailing economic challenges.
“The situation is ultra vires Section 76 of the constitution of Zimbabwe which gives every citizen and permanent residents of Zimbabwe a right to health care.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project calls for urgent lasting solutions to the doctors’ strike.
ZPP said it subscribed to the constitutional provision that, basic accessible and adequate health care should be provided to all citizens of Zimbabwe, where no person should be refused emergency medical treatment at any medical institutions.
“The Zimbabwe constitution provides under Chapters 2.29 and 4.76, Health Services and the right to Health care respective
“ZPP appeals to involved parties to urgently find a lasting solution to ensure that the people’s right to health and doctors’ right to a decent work are upheld,” said ZPP in a report.
ZPP implored government to seriously attend to the aggrieved doctors in relation to their right to decent working conditions.
The strike which was organised by the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association continues with no solution in sight.
Already there are reports that the number of avoidable deaths at the country’s hospitals continued to climb.
ZHDA said the strike would continue until the employer has formerly communicated favourably with the doctors.
Post published in: Health