Government has committed to ensuring that medical doctors’
concerns are ironed out through formal negotiations, a Cabinet minister has
said.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA)
wrote to Government demanding salary increments. ZHDA threatened industrial
action if Government does not respond to their grievances in three weeks.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail yesterday, Public Service,
Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said Government will ensure
that the health professionals’ concerns are looked into.
“Negotiations will start soon. I need to confirm the date,
but it’s soon. They are going to be done through the NJNC (National Joint
Negotiations Council), together with the Health Services Board,” said Dr
Nzenza.
“A strike will be a last resort. We will negotiate with
doctors and I am confident we will come up with a resolution. The Tripartite
Negotiating Forum brings unions, Government and business together to discuss
economic issues affecting the workers.”
The doctors are arguing that due to the rising cost of
living, they are now financially incapacitated.
In their letter addressed to the Health Services Board
chairperson, Dr Paulinus Sikhosana, ZHDA said the doctors’ living conditions
are now a cause for concern.
Read the letter in part: “We request that the employer
adjust our earnings according to the inter-market bank rate, which currently
sits at 8,7 to the United States dollar.
“We hereby give notice of total incapacitation with
immediate effect, giving the employer a grace period of three weeks upon
receipt of this letter to present practical solutions to our financial cries.”
Speaking to The Sunday mail yesterday, ZHDA acting
president Dr Peter Magombeyi said Government was yet to communicate with them.
“Government is yet to formally respond to our statement. I
am unable to reveal to the media just yet what our next move will be, but we
will keep you updated,” he said.
Last month, Government awarded a cushioning allowance of 50
percent of all health workers’ pensionable salaries in order to ease their
economic woes.
Government has also kept its promise in terms of keeping
public hospitals well equipped and with adequate medicine.
Last month, India donated a consignment of essential
medicines worth US$250 000.
Through President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s engagement efforts,
the United Arab Emirates also recently donated US$2 million worth of surgical
sundries and equipment.
In the last two months, the availability of essential
medicines in the public health institutions has increased from 52 percent to 65
percent. Sunday Mail
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