Doctors reject government offer

Zimbabwe's striking junior doctors on Thursday rejected a government pay offer and vowed to continue with industrial action, partially closing major hospitals for the 10th day running. Lincoln Shenje, secretary-general of the Hospital Doctors' Association, told IRIN that the government had "re-offered an old package" when it announced on Wednesday night a doubling of the on-call allowance to doctors in state hospitals. "We have been negotiating for eight months for a total revamping of the health system," Shenje said. "In the central hospitals medical equipment needs to be refurbished - patients are dying because they can't afford medication. We want the working conditions of doctors improved, and will strike until these basic grievances are addressed." He said the government has been "communicating through the state media" and had not been in official contact with the union. Shenje added that "many" among the some 350 junior doctors were trying to leave Zimbabwe for jobs elsewhere: "Volunteers are willing to go to Kosovo, Taiwan, they are willing to work anywhere." Junior doctors are the first line of defence in major hospitals, and are expected to work for two years as interns. The strike has forced state hospitals to turn away all but critically ill patients, with senior doctors and consultants left to cope with emergency cases.