ZIMBABWEAN doctors are not pleased with the relaxed approach taken by the Health Services Board and Government in dealing with the obtaining strike, it has emerged.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
In a statement, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association’s spokesperson Dr Anele Bhebhe acknowledged Health and Childcare Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo’s keenness in solving the situation.
“We recognise the effort of the Honourable Minister of Health Dr Obadiah Moyo, in creating a negotiation platform for the grievances to be addressed,” he said.
But the association is concerned by the casual manner their case handled.
“However, the assigned team has been deliberately sluggish deciding to focus on media propaganda instead of addressing the situation with the urgency it deserves,” said Dr Bhebhe.
Dr Bhebhe revealed that a meeting has been pencilled for December 12.
“The meeting between the employer and the government was scheduled on the 12th of December despite the urgency of the situation. All such meetings in our view could have been done in the shortest possible time but the response was deliberately sluggish,” he said.
With the impending festive season infamous for many accidents, the industrial action continues until their issues are resolved.
“As it stands, doctors remain on industrial action and the situation in our hospitals has grown increasingly dire as we approach the festive season,” Dr Bhebhe noted with sadness adding, “We therefore call upon our employer to be more serious with the health care of the nation and not sabotage vision 2030.”
He said doctors are willing to engage with HSB.
“Doctors are already prepared to come to terms with the employer so that the impasse is resolved as early as possible,” he said.
More senior doctors are downing their tools.
“Till then, they remain on industrial action and more seniors will be joining so that the employer may address our beloved country’s health care system with the respect it deserves,” he said.
Meanwhile, HSB reportedly accused junior doctors who joined industrial action of breaching statutory provisions after giving a 24-hour notice.
