Ultimatum for striking health workers
The general public is hereby informed that a coalition of technical workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and laboratory technicians, have instituted strike action in government hospitals especially in the western area and are withholding their professional services from citizens of this country. This has caused untold suffering to people who are sick and hospitalised, emergency patients and others requiring out-patient services. The strike action has not been sanctioned through official channels and is therefore an illegal activity.
While Government recognises that existing conditions of service for health workers are poor, the proposed package of salary increases and other benefits presented by the coalition is estimated at approximately 130 billion leones, which is more than five times the current health sector wage bill. In an effort to reach an amicable settlement, Govermnment with support from our donor partners has put together an affordable and sustainable package that would raise the current health sector wage bill from 25 billion leones to an estimated 50 billion leones per annum. This constitutes a doubling of salaries across the board for technical health workers, over and above the announced 20% wage increase already implemented for all public servants. These new wage levels are retroactive with effect from 1st March 2010, and arrears incurred will be paid in April 2010. Government has also agreed to settle the wage arrears of unionised health workers.
Notwithstanding Government’s commitment in effecting such significant improvements in the terms and conditions of service of technical health workers, the coalition has remained adamant. The intervention of no less a person than His Excellency the President at a meeting with the coalition on Thursday 25th March 2010 did not yield any positive result. Government considers this as a deliberate attempt to derail the ongoing implementation of our Agenda For Change which gives priority to significant improvements in health care delivery.
Against this background, Government is left with no alternative but to direct that all health workers who do not report for duty latest Monday 29th March 2010 will be subject to dismissal without benefits. Government is appealing to all retired doctors, midwives, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians to report to the Chief Medical Officer who will arrange for them to be recruited on contract to provide professional services in our hospitals. Also, Programme Mangers and Directors in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation who are practising doctors are required to report to the Chief Medical Officer. Assurance is given that the Sierra Leone Police have been put on alert to maintain law and order in government hospitals and provide protection to patriotic health workers who obey the Government’s directive. Any act of intimidation, harassment or obstruction perpetrated against legitimate health workers will be severely dealt with by the law.
Government wishes to assure the general public that it is working relentlessly to improve the overall delivery of health services through various initiatives, including the forthcoming launch of free health care for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under 5 years of age on 27th April 2010 and the establishment of a Health Services Commission, recently approved by Cabinet, that will specifically address issues of the welfare of workers in the health sector.
Signed, His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai KoromaStay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
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