South African doctors strike, healthcare, doctors strike, nurses strike, Pretoria, pay, working conditions, June 2009.
South Africa has more than 18,000 state doctors who serve 80 percent of the 48 million population who cannot afford private health care.
Example of Salaries. Doctors study for six years and take home R8 000 – R9 000, compared to an engineer who studies two years and takes home R25 000 with benefits. 43 percent of South Africans live on less than two dollars a day.
Old article, from September 2000. South Africa accuses Saskatchewan of doctor 'poaching' cbc.ca
Another article from 04 South Africa's brain drain dilemma bbc
3 July, 2009 Cape Town 2-3000 doctors suspended illegal two week strike today.
2 July, 2009 Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town has criticized doctors on strike in South Africa for depriving "the poorest of the poor" of health care, but also called on the government to expedite talks to meet doctors' needs.
1 July, 09 Tentative agreement on the table. Rural areas strained,
Wednesday, 24 June, 09 Big news today. Offer from health department, SAMA mullimg it over, doctors will continue striking.
18 percent and 60 percent for doctors in the public sector.
Interns, 31 percent and 53 percent to bring their salaries to R314023 a year.
Specialists’ salaries would be raised by as much as 29 percent.
Doctors on the other hand will stayaway until they are given a 50 percent salary increase across the board.
Tuesday, 23 June, 09 Day 2
Monday, 22 June, 09 With this co-operation country wide, perhaps this is now the tipping point. Hundreds of doctors, pharmacists, dentists and emergency workers heeded the strike today. Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal particularly in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Treasury is working out the rands and cents and we will finalise the process by 30 June," said Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo. RK Khan, Addington, Osindisweni, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, Wentworth, King George, Mahatma Gandhi, King Edward, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central, Stanger, and Greys Hospitals have all been affected by the strike. Also Johannesburg, Port Shepstone, Edendale, Northdale, Empangeni and Eshowe hospitals. Mpumalanga's Themba, Rob Ferreira, Shongwe and Tonga hospitals as well as Umtata Complex in the Eastern Cape are also affected. Gauteng hospitals as well as some in the Western Cape are expected to join the protest on Wednesday . Not a bad result for an illegal strike coming from an email.
Saturday 6/20/09 During this doctors strike, doctors will not even see patients who come in for emergencies. The South African Medical Association (Sama) said yesterday it expected a “total shutdown” in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, followed by the rest of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday. Parties will come to the table on Wednesday.
6/19/09 State doctors, pharmacists, dentists and paramedics have called for a crippling national wildcat strike after government never came in with their end of the deal with a revised salary offer yesterday .A strike called for this Monday is illegal and not authorized by Sama was called by a fast circulating email.
Durban’s Addington Hospital, the South Coast’s GJCrookes Hospital, the North Coast’s Stanger Hospital and the Midland’s Newcastle Hospital, Durban’s Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, Pietermaritzburg’s Edendale Hospital, were also keen to join in a countrywide effort.
5/29/09 Friday, Doctors took to the street today, 500 marched in Pretoria and another 1000 in Durban. State doctors were underpaid by between 50 and 75 percent. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi apologized for delay in paying wage adjustments. Health department considers march illegal, SAMA say's absolutely not.
Break away group of doctors, United Doctors Forum (UDF) have been kicked out of meetings.
5/29/09 South Africa: Bus Drivers Now Earn More Than Doctors
Government has made an offer of between 0.28% - 5%, which was rejected by all parties.
29 April, 2009 Strike over, doctors back to work. Agreement between both parties has been made, but no date set for formal talks. Nurses can go back to normal as they had been picking up the slack.
28 April,09 Nurses have said they will join the national strike for better wages.
25 April, 2009 SAMA begging doctors to go back to work. Military health service would be asked to help should the strike at state hospitals continue. Gauteng's Health Department head Sybil Ngcobo said."..to offer the doctors an opportunity to return to work immediately, failing which disciplinary action would be instituted. Strike was unprotected and unlawful"
24 April, 09 Friday Strike driven by junior doctors and interns, Junior doctors salary R7 000 a month and need the overtime money to survive. Chris Hani Baragwanath, the biggest hospital in the country, joined at least 24 other hospitals in industrial action by declaring an immediate go-slow. SA Medical Association (SAMA) shows SA doctors are 50 and 75 percent underpaid. Government appealing to doctors to go back to work. Gauteng hospitals affected by strikes are Odi, Jubilee, Tembisa, Mametlhake, George Stegmann Hospitals. Thebe, Mamopo, Elizabeth Ross, Botlhokong and Ditlhabeng all closed. In Mpumalanga, Rob Ferreira and Kwa-Mhlanga have shut down. allafrica.com
21 April, 2009 Doctors from the public sector on strike has spread to Tembisa outpatient department and Jubilee hospital. At George Mukhari hospital all departments are closed, patients being diverted to other hospitals.
Both sides meeting in Pretoria today.
2/19/09 The Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) management are expected on Thursday to sign an agreement that could see an end to a three-week strike at the institution.The two parties reached an agreement of a 10 percent wage increase across the board. allafrica
07 Nurses strike for a month. Get pay raise of 20 percent, housing subsidies and better medical coverage.
As part of the occupation-specific dispensation (OSD) system, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and emergency care workers were to have been on a similar pay system by June last year.
We need local source!
