August 26, 2019

We Can’t Continue Subsidising Gvt Says Doctors

DOCTORS from across all government hospitals in the country have declared incapacitation in the wake of a 60% cost of living adjustment which was tabled by government last week which they say is insufficient.

By Michael Gwarisa

In a letter directed to the Health Services Board (HSB), Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi said the situation has reached another level and it can’t be business as usual.

Reference is made to your response dated 19 August 2019, addressed to our Secretary General. The ZHDA National Executive (ZHDA NEC) would like to clarify that provincial representatives are part of our national structures, as you may have noted that the ZHDA President signed the previous letter dated August 14.

“We also hereby request that the HSB desists on focusing on technicalities and shift focus to the matter at hand, i.e adjusting salaries according to the inter market bank rate,” said Dr Magombeyi.

He added that following the Health Service Bipartite Negotiator Panel (HSBNP) meeting held on the 23rd of this month, LIDA NEC has conducted nationwide consultation with members.

“The government’s offer of 60% was communicated to doctors nationwide and it has been agreed that the 60% offered is mediocre and is insufficient to meet the current cost of living. We maintain our request to have our earnings, which were previously pegged in US dollars, be paid at the prevailing inter market bank rate.”

He also said the ZHDA NEC has been assigned by members to notify the HSB of their inability to continue subsidizing the employer beyond the 3rd of September 2019.