End the strike - doctors

2010-09-03 07:49

Johannesburg - The Doctors' Forum on Thursday called on the government and public service unions to end the strike.

"We call on government to continue negotiations with immediate effect and work hard for a compromise solution between themselves and the unions," the association's spokesperson Moatshe Sekhu said.

Unions have rejected government's offer of a 7.5% wage increase and an R800 housing allowance. They are demanding an 8.6% hike and a R1 000 housing allowance.

Critically ill patients

The forum said the strike was endangering critically ill people.

"A significant number of patients who were critically ill and in intensive care units were transferred to private hospitals and clinics. They receive inadequate care because our doctors have to travel from their place of work to see them in private clinics, thus limiting necessary continuity of care, possible when all our patients are in one place."

Other critical patients did not see their loved ones, as their families had to travel long distances to see them.

"It is possible that more avoidable deaths have occurred amongst this group of patients."

HIV/Aids patient unable to access their treatment risked becoming drug resistant and chronically ill patients were developing complications.

Sick deserve 'the best possible care'

The forum was opposed to minimum service agreements, as proposed by the unions, as the sick deserved "the best possible care".

The inability of negotiators to reach a solution had led to the strike having "untold misery on our patients".

The forum represents public hospital doctors, dentists, private practitioners, medical officers, medical and surgical specialists, community service doctors, interns and medical students in their fifth and sixth years of study.

- SAPA