STRIKING doctors yesterday resolved to call of their three-week industrial action while negotiations on their salaries and conditions of service continue. STAFF REPORTER
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Health Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) said they were calling off the strike with immediate effect and were coming up with a negotiating calendar where benchmarks must be set to review progress on their outstanding grievances.
“Cognisant of the suffering innocent patients have been going through, the ZHDA membership unanimously resolved that with immediate effect all its striking members will resume their duties as per their normal schedules while they painfully compromise and await the implementation of the rectified package,” ZHDA said in a statement.
Junior doctors at public hospitals have been on strike for almost three weeks now, as they sought to press the government to increase their salaries, from $282 to $1 200 excluding allowances.
“Members acknowledged the progress made in the negotiations, which are still ongoing, the rectifications made by the employer on disparities on some of their allowances and the mechanisms to resolve such,” the statement said.
ZHDA issued the statement after a meeting of more than 150 doctors form Chitungwiza, Harare and Parirenyatwa hospitals.
The doctors said they were committed to fulfilling their duties, but said they could only do so if they were motivated.
The striking doctors were only attending to emergencies and critical situations as admissions at public hospitals like Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) plummeted by more than 80%.
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The strike affected mainly the poor, who cannot afford private healthcare.
