Doctors in Public Hospitals Escalate Strike
Doctors in public hospitals, organized under the National Doctors Syndicate (Synamed), have decided to escalate their strike movement in Kinshasa. During a general assembly held on Friday, January 3, they announced the implementation of the “hospitals without doctors” operation starting Saturday, January 4.
The provincial executive secretary of Synamed Kinshasa, Patrick Boloko May, justified this decision citing the government’s failure to fulfill its commitments. He mentioned that only doctors in Kinshasa had received one month of the three months’ worth of arrears agreed upon, while the payment did not extend to the other 25 provinces of the country.
“In response to our strike movement, the government paid one month out of the three expected on January 2, 2025, with partial coverage nationwide. Additionally, the alignment of risk premiums for 1,000 doctors is still pending. Faced with this situation, doctors who are members of Synamed gathered in a general assembly have decided to shift to the ‘hospitals without doctors’ strike form from Saturday, January 4, until the government fulfills all its commitments,” stated Patrick Boloko May.
Emergency Services Only in Designated Hospitals
Synamed specified that during this period, only emergency cases will be handled in certain hospitals according to a precise schedule:
– Saturday, January 4, and Sunday, January 5, 2025: N’djili General Reference Hospital (HGR) and Bumbu Medico-Educational Center (CME).
– Monday, January 6, and Tuesday, January 7, 2025: Kinkole HGR and Ngaliema Clinic.
– Wednesday, January 8, and Thursday, January 9, 2025: Kintambo HGR and Kinshasa University Center (CUK).
– Friday, January 10, 2025: Kinshasa Clinic and Ngaba CME.
A review meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 11, 2025, to assess the progress of the movement.
Government Commitments and Doctors’ Frustrations
It is worth noting that the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and Public Health had called for a meeting with the doctors’ syndicate on Monday, December 30, 2024. Following the meeting, the government had announced the disbursement of necessary funds through the Central Bank to address doctors’ demands, especially regarding salary and social conditions. However, the failure to fulfill these commitments nationwide has angered the doctors.
Synamed is urging its members to remain united and adhere to the strike directives until their demands are completely met.
As a child, I remember waiting for hours at the hospital with my parents, hoping to see a doctor while they were on strike. It was a stressful time, not knowing if we would receive the medical attention we needed. This personal experience makes me empathize with the patients who might be affected by the current strike. It’s crucial for both the government and doctors to find a resolution that ensures the well-being of patients is not compromised during this challenging time.