HARARE – Senior doctors on Monday announced they were joining the ongoing strike by junior doctors, in a major escalation of the developing crisis.
Senior doctors said they were overwhelmed by the workload after junior doctors went on strike starting on December 1.
“Due to the ongoing industrial action by our junior colleagues, we as the registrars are now overwhelmed by the workload and we are now unable to effectively discharge our services,” the senior doctors said in a notice to clinical directors of all the major government hospitals.
“We are therefore withdrawing our services with immediate effect. We hope that the situation will be resolved expeditiously so that we may resume providing our services normally and effectively.”
The doctors have tabled several demands. They want the government to avail drugs and other critical medicines required by their patients as well as review their salaries against the backdrop of galloping prices.
The government has maintained that the strike is illegal, while promising to look into the doctors’ demands.
Health Minister Obadiah Moyo told the doctors last week that the government was expecting a medical consignment worth $25 million from India, which would address the shortages of drugs and sundries, including medical gloves. He urged the doctors to return to work while negotiations continue.
