Military healthcare practitioners have been called upon by the Department of Health (DOH) in South Africa to provide assistance as healthcare workers across the country embark on a nationwide strike.
The healthcare workers are demanding a wage increase of at least 10%. The military-trained medical practitioners were deployed to various hospitals on March 8 to relieve the health sector for however long was necessary or until the striking workers returned to their duty posts. The deployment was in accordance with the National Disaster Management Act 2002.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) justified the strike as a means to drive home their demands.
The union stated that many patients wait in queues for hours to see a doctor because the government had refused to hire more hands and was instead appointing more cabinet members. Baxolise Mali, provincial general secretary of the NEHAWU, further described the government as reckless in paying “peanuts” to the healthcare workers who were commended for their efforts in saving lives during the pandemic.
The strike comes at a difficult time as the country is currently experiencing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are fears that the strike will lead to a strain on healthcare facilities and further loss of lives. However, the DOH stated that it has contingency measures in place to deal with any emergencies.
The strike also comes after years of complaints about inadequate staffing, poor wages and working conditions in the South African health sector.
The DOH has previously been accused of mismanaging funds meant for the health sector, leading to inadequate infrastructure, lack of essential medical supplies and shortage of personnel.
The South African government has faced criticism for its handling of the health sector, particularly during the pandemic. The strike by healthcare workers has further exposed the weaknesses in the sector and the urgent need for reform.
It is hoped that the government will take this opportunity to address the long-standing issues and work towards providing better healthcare services for its citizens.