Doctors To Launch Indefinite Nationwide Strike On Wednesday
Public sector doctors in the country has planned to start an indefinite nationwide strike on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 if the government does not address their long-standing fuel allocation demands.
In a letter dated October 3, 2024 to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Medical and Dental Association indicated that their 21-day strike notice would expire on Tuesday, leading to a walkout the following day.
Secretary General Dr. Peter Mac-Jajua stated that no further communication had occurred since their reminder letter. Many doctors are still owed fuel allocations from previous months, and those who received their quota had to wait six months, with more backlogs pending.
Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby reported that fuel had been distributed to all verified doctors for the first and second quarters and that plans were in place to release the third-quarter allocations this week. He mentioned attempts to meet with the doctors, but these requests were declined.
Dr. Demby expressed concern that a strike would jeopardize patient care, stating that while the doctors’ demands are legitimate, the government has made efforts within its financial constraints. The doctors seek their 45 liters of weekly fuel entitlement to be included with their monthly salary for more reliability, a request the government has rejected due to potential implications for taxation and other public sector workers.
