VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga has warned health
professionals against using patients’ lives as pawns while bargaining for
better working conditions.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Chiwenga, who
doubles as Health minister, also revealed that government had increased health
workers’ salaries to entice them to call off their three-month strike, but
could not disclose the level of the increase.
“As we move forward and face the future with courage, the
expectation of government is that the work ethics and work culture within the
Ministry of Health and Child Care undergo deep transformation,” he said.
“We expect all grievances to be solved amicably through
discussions without endangering patients’ lives; never again shall patients’
lives be used like pawns in a game of chess.”
Nurses have been on strike for over three months.
Doctors joined the strike last month, citing lack of
government commitment to address the health professionals’ grievances.
Since President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over in a November
2017 coup, doctors and nurses have downed tools several times demanding better
salaries and working conditions.
Chiwenga, who took over as Health minister last month
following the axing of Obadiah Moyo on corruption charges in June, said strikes
by health professional should be a thing of the past.
“Health professionals will now be expected to be true to
their oath of ethics, the hippocratic oath. We also expect any demands to be
made based on our national reality. As government, we commit to continuously
review the conditions of service of our health professionals,” he said.
“On the conditions of service of health professionals, the
Ministry of Health and Child Care’s new structure includes the critical
infrastructure planning and development department which is key to the
development of health professionals infrastructure needs.
“Housing and vehicle loans will also form part of the
improved conditions of service … We have now reviewed salaries for health
professionals as a way of government commitment to make the national healthcare
system competitive.
“To this end, an overall increase on health sector specific
allowances will be effected by government.
“We are convinced that salaries and conditions of service
are bound to further improve and be more competitive in the short-to-medium
term because of the important measures.” Newsday
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