Striking doctors suspended

The Zambian ministry of health has suspended junior doctors who have been on strike for the past 13 days. Dr Ben Chirwa, spokesman for the Central Board of Health in Lusaka told IRIN on Tuesday that the doctors’ contracts stipulate they are not allowed to be absent from work for more than 10 days without “proper reason.” Chirwa told IRIN the strike action by junior doctors stems from their concerns that “facilities within government hospitals were not conducive to proper patient care.” News reports added they were also demanding a wage increase. Chirwa said the duties of the junior doctors have been taken over by senior staff who are “treating all emergencies and the most critical cases.” Meanwhile, media reports said the striking doctors have been banned from leaving the country. “This is blackmail. If they can’t pay us, we are entitled to go and look for jobs elsewhere,” Dr Canicius Banda, a spokesman for the junior doctors was quoted as saying.