Mozambican Ministry of Health promises medical services despite strikes

Mozambique’s Ministry of Health this Monday deplored the new extension of the doctors’ strike from July 10 and the start of the shutdown of technicians and nurses on Sunday, promising that this would “ensure the continuity of medical services to the population.”

“Despite the challenges these shutdowns pose to the healthcare sector, the government guarantees the continuity of healthcare services to the public. The Ministry of Health will continue to regularly provide relevant information on the functioning of health services to the public at large for the use of official sources of information,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The government recognizes the role of all medical workers who, despite the existing problems, go to work every day, keeping their oath. The Ministry of Health reiterates that it continues to favor dialogue as a way to find solutions to disputes. with healthcare workers,” he adds.

The statement recalls that in “the context of an ongoing dialogue with officials, associations and professional orders in the health sector,” the Ministry of Health “has created a discussion forum since 2020 to find joint solutions to the problems of the sector.”

“Since July 10, 2023, there has been a strike in the country, organized by the Medical Association of Mozambique. [AMM]. The Government regrets that the AMM has taken the decision to once again extend the strike, despite the progress made in settling the claims contained in its list of demands. In addition, the Association of United and Solidary Health Professionals of Mozambique [APSUSM] promotes the strike of other medical workers from August 20, despite the fact that their demands are met within the current legal framework, ”the Ministry of Health further notes.

Mozambican doctors approved on Sunday a new 21-day strike period, the third consecutive strike since July 10, in a direct appeal to President Filipe Nyusi to end the current “crisis” that is paralyzing hospitals.

“We have decided to extend the strike for another 21 days, in the same manner in which we conducted it earlier, of course, with the provision of minimum services so that our population does not suffer any more,” it was announced at the end of the general meeting. meeting in Maputo, AMM President Milton Tatia.

“To send an appeal to whoever we believe is the only person who can end this crisis that we are experiencing for the National Health Service, who is His Excellency the President of the Republic. put an end to this crisis,” he added. .

The only item on the agenda of the general meeting, attended by dozens of doctors, was the decision to extend the class strike, protesting mainly against wage cuts, as part of the application of the new salary table for civil servants. , and no overtime pay, as well as protecting the National Health Service and the status of doctors.

“We also want to appeal to our patients, our population, those who are really familiar with everyday hospital life, who know the hospital reality, to unite, we fight for people, we fight for ours. We know that many times they lacked the courage to speak, but we’ve already started. We have already started talking about working conditions and we ask them to join us,” Milton Tatia said.

Also on Sunday, Mozambican health workers – about 65,000 servants, technicians and nurses – began a 21-day general strike, maintaining only minimal services in maternity wards, day care centers and emergency rooms. They are demanding that the government “meet” the needs of the sector, including those of the medical profession, Nurse Anselmo Muhava, president of the Association of United and Solidary Health Workers of Mozambique (APSUSM), said Saturday.

On June 1, these professionals had already demonstrated, culminating in the first nationwide strike to “denounce the state of slavery” to which they said they were “subjected in the exercise” of their services.

The strike was suspended “by bilateral agreement” after a round of negotiations three days later “with the rationale of giving the government the opportunity to implement the agreements reached within 15 days”, which Muchave guaranteed did not happen.

“Of all the concerns presented by APSUSM, none of them were satisfied with tangible results, since there was only a report from the government of oral negotiations with persons that could not be proven and that such negotiations actually took place.” he explained.

“However, the government has 4.5 billion meticas. [64,6 milhões de euros] to spend on the next October elections, he also bought 45 luxury cars worth 120 million meticals. [1,7 milhão de euros]. However, he does not have the money to buy a simple hospital bed or simple paracetamol,” Anselmo Muhava said.

Among the demands placed on the government are “providing hospitals with medicines” that patients must purchase, acquiring hospital beds, addressing the “lack of food and adequate nutrition” in first-aid posts, equipping ambulances with emergency supplies for quick life support. or reusable personal protective equipment, the shortage of which “forces employees to buy them out of their own pocket.”