Govt army medics amid doctors strike

Zimbabwe has deployed army medics to work at major public hospitals following a week-long strike by junior doctors, a senior government official said. Gerald Gwinji, permanent secretary in the health ministry, said the strike had put pressure on public hospitals, which were already struggling with shortages of drugs and under-funding. Edgar Munatsi, president of the […]

Zimbabwe has deployed army medics to work at major public hospitals following a week-long strike by junior doctors, a senior government official said.
Gerald Gwinji, permanent secretary in the health ministry, said the strike had put pressure on public hospitals, which were already struggling with shortages of drugs and under-funding. Edgar Munatsi, president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, told Reuters that doctors wanted their on-call allowances to be increased to $10 (£8) an hour from the current $1.20. He said more than 400 doctors were staying away from work, warning that senior doctors could also join the strike.