More Durban doctors picketing

2009-06-30 09:43

Durban - KwaZulu-Natal doctors were picketing outside Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital on Tuesday morning, police said.

"Stake doctors are picketing outside Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital; the metro police will continue to monitor the situation," said Superintendent Joyce Khuzwayo.

This is the first time doctors from this hospital have been seen picketing following tension between the Department of Health and state doctors over salary negotiations.

Striking doctors' spokesperson Dr Shailendra Sham said even though Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital was a respected hospital, the doctors there faced the same problems as at other state hospitals.

Same problems

"Regardless of the fact that this hospital has state-of-the-art equipment, it cannot be used with skeleton staff.

"The doctors at this hospital still face the same problems as the rest of us in terms of salaries," he said.

On Monday close to 100 doctors were served with dismissal letters by the KwaZulu-Natal health department.

They were dismissed after they defied a Durban Labour Court interim interdict compelling health care professionals to return to their posts.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health could not be reached for comment on Tuesday morning.

- SAPA