Doctors Sell Patients a Dummy
28 DEC, 2019 - 00:12
Harmony Agere and Sharon Munjenjema
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
SOME medical doctors are selling Government and patients a dummy claiming, under their respective unions, to have resumed duty when the situation in major referral hospital indicates otherwise.
The Sunday Mail can reveal that despite announcements by the medical professionals that they were back at work, following nearly four months on strike, patients seeking a number of services in hospitals are still being turned away.
A snap survey last week showed that Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the country’s largest referral healthcare institution, was largely deserted.
There were no admissions into wards and a few “lucky and connected” patients were only being admitted on condition they made private arrangements for their doctors to see them at the institution.
While there appeared to be doctors at Sally Mugabe Hospital (Harare Central Hospital), investigations showed that the institution was not admitting any patients.
However, the paediatric sections at both hospitals were open.
Doctors have been on strike since September citing poor wages and lack of drugs in hospitals and clinics.
Over 500 medical professionals were subsequently fired after the Labour Court ruled their industrial action illegal. But President Mnangagwa extended an olive branch to those wishing to return to work.
This was after Government and Econet-linked Higher Life Foundation agreed on a $100 million fellowship deal which would see doctors’ salaries being increased.
The deal spelt out that junior doctors, who qualified for the six-month fellowship, would be offered a $5 000 monthly package, as well as free transport services of up to three trips a day.
An additional $5 000 was offered to doctors who worked during this festive season.
According to Higher Life Foundation, 362 doctors have since applied for the fellowship.
The doctors themselves, through the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) and Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) subsequently released statements indicating their intention to return to work.
But the situation on the ground, especially in Harare, shows otherwise.
Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ) secretary-general Dr Sitshengisani Vuma said about 200 junior doctors were back at work.
“About 200 junior doctors accepted the Higherlife Foundation fellowship offer and are back at work,” he said.
“Most are at Parirenyatwa Hospital, a good number are at Harare Hospital and others are at Mpilo Hospital.
“The difference from the 362 whose applications were successful may be people who accepted the offer, but will only start work next year.”
Econet spokesperson Fungai Mandiveyi, who speaks on behalf of Higherlife Foundation, had not responded to questions by the time of going to print.
Patients and relatives who spoke to The Sunday Mail at Parirenyatwa Hospital said they were pondering their next move as there were no services.
A Harare man, who had accompanied his mother-in-law, said they had been kept in a queue for over three hours.
“We have been here since morning, but we have not received any assistance and she is in pain,” he said.
“We have been told to join a queue, but we are not sure if there are any doctors around. With her condition, it is clear she has to be admitted, but they are not saying anything.”
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals public relations officer Mr Linos Dhire said doctors were mostly responding to emergency cases.
“Doctors availability has generally been good during the festive season. Doctors availability has been more than 80 percent for all the emergencies which presented to the hospital during that period,” he said.
A student nurse who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation said there was not much improvement since doctors claimed they had ended their strike.
“Few doctors have come forward, the few that are back are rarely attending to patients. We can only provide basic care,” said the student nurse.
Contacted for comment, Harare Hospital public relations manager Mrs Juliet Chikurunhe could not provide an update on the situation saying: “I am out of the office. I am on holiday.”
Most patients in Harare are now turning to polyclinics and private medical centres.
However, most of the private institutions are demanding between US$250 and US$500 to admit patients for between three and five days.
Meanwhile, our Masvingo correspondent Walter Mswazie reports that the situation at Masvingo General Hospital was normal, save for the scarcity of drugs.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Julius Chirengwa, said: “The situation at Masvingo General Hospital is normal. For more information, contact provincial medical director.”
Efforts to get a comment from the provincial medical director, Dr Ammadeaus Shamu, were fruitless as his mobile phone was continuously not reachable.
Harmony Agere and Sharon Munjenjema
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
SOME medical doctors are selling Government and patients a dummy claiming, under their respective unions, to have resumed duty when the situation in major referral hospital indicates otherwise.
The Sunday Mail can reveal that despite announcements by the medical professionals that they were back at work, following nearly four months on strike, patients seeking a number of services in hospitals are still being turned away.
A snap survey last week showed that Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the country’s largest referral healthcare institution, was largely deserted.
There were no admissions into wards and a few “lucky and connected” patients were only being admitted on condition they made private arrangements for their doctors to see them at the institution.
While there appeared to be doctors at Sally Mugabe Hospital (Harare Central Hospital), investigations showed that the institution was not admitting any patients.
However, the paediatric sections at both hospitals were open.
Doctors have been on strike since September citing poor wages and lack of drugs in hospitals and clinics.
Over 500 medical professionals were subsequently fired after the Labour Court ruled their industrial action illegal. But President Mnangagwa extended an olive branch to those wishing to return to work.
This was after Government and Econet-linked Higher Life Foundation agreed on a $100 million fellowship deal which would see doctors’ salaries being increased.
The deal spelt out that junior doctors, who qualified for the six-month fellowship, would be offered a $5 000 monthly package, as well as free transport services of up to three trips a day.
An additional $5 000 was offered to doctors who worked during this festive season.
According to Higher Life Foundation, 362 doctors have since applied for the fellowship.
The doctors themselves, through the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) and Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) subsequently released statements indicating their intention to return to work.
But the situation on the ground, especially in Harare, shows otherwise.
Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ) secretary-general Dr Sitshengisani Vuma said about 200 junior doctors were back at work.
“About 200 junior doctors accepted the Higherlife Foundation fellowship offer and are back at work,” he said.
“Most are at Parirenyatwa Hospital, a good number are at Harare Hospital and others are at Mpilo Hospital.
“The difference from the 362 whose applications were successful may be people who accepted the offer, but will only start work next year.”
Econet spokesperson Fungai Mandiveyi, who speaks on behalf of Higherlife Foundation, had not responded to questions by the time of going to print.
Patients and relatives who spoke to The Sunday Mail at Parirenyatwa Hospital said they were pondering their next move as there were no services.
A Harare man, who had accompanied his mother-in-law, said they had been kept in a queue for over three hours.
“We have been here since morning, but we have not received any assistance and she is in pain,” he said.
“We have been told to join a queue, but we are not sure if there are any doctors around. With her condition, it is clear she has to be admitted, but they are not saying anything.”
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals public relations officer Mr Linos Dhire said doctors were mostly responding to emergency cases.
“Doctors availability has generally been good during the festive season. Doctors availability has been more than 80 percent for all the emergencies which presented to the hospital during that period,” he said.
A student nurse who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation said there was not much improvement since doctors claimed they had ended their strike.
“Few doctors have come forward, the few that are back are rarely attending to patients. We can only provide basic care,” said the student nurse.
Contacted for comment, Harare Hospital public relations manager Mrs Juliet Chikurunhe could not provide an update on the situation saying: “I am out of the office. I am on holiday.”
Most patients in Harare are now turning to polyclinics and private medical centres.
However, most of the private institutions are demanding between US$250 and US$500 to admit patients for between three and five days.
Meanwhile, our Masvingo correspondent Walter Mswazie reports that the situation at Masvingo General Hospital was normal, save for the scarcity of drugs.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Julius Chirengwa, said: “The situation at Masvingo General Hospital is normal. For more information, contact provincial medical director.”
Efforts to get a comment from the provincial medical director, Dr Ammadeaus Shamu, were fruitless as his mobile phone was continuously not reachable.
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