Disciplinary hearings against doctors who participated in
the illegal industrial action will be fair and transparent and will continue to
be conducted as scheduled, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.
In a statement last, night Health and Child Care Secretary
Dr Gerald Gwinji encouraged the striking doctors returning to work to subject
themselves to this process arguing that information being peddled that all who
presented themselves for the hearings will severely be dealt with and dismissed
summarily was ‘inaccurate and misleading.’
“While we cannot determine outcomes of disciplinary
procedure, we would like to assure all affected that fair and transparent
disciplinary procedures are and will continue to be carried out,” said Dr
Gwinji.
He said as per collective bargaining agreement senior
doctors have also been incorporated in the hearings as part of the tribunals
and observers to ensure fairness and transparency to the whole process.
“As per the request by the affected doctors, their
consultants have been incorporated into the hearings as part of their tribunals
and as observers to demonstrate transparency and fairness of the disciplinary
procedures,” said Dr Gwinji.
He said for those who resume duty, provisions for applying
for advances on their salaries are also still in place and have not been
withdrawn.
“Ministry therefore encourage affected doctors to subject
themselves to due processes and appreciates the commitment of those who have
presented themselves for this process. We thank those doctors who have resumed
duties at their station,” he said.
Disciplinary hearings against doctors who participated in
the industrial action started last week Friday and to date, 35 members have
presented themselves.
As of yesterday, 238 members defaulted from the
disciplinary hearings. The disciplinary hearings were necessitated by the
Labour Court ruling which declared the industrial action, which entered day 39
today as illegal. Herald
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