Doctors threaten strike action in Freetown

Medical doctors at state hospitals in the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, have threatened to join nurses who went on strike on 12 February over pay and working conditions, the non-governmental Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) reported.

The doctors are already on a go-slow, working half-days - from 08:00 to 14:00 HRS. They have threatened to reduce this to 0800-1200 and go on strike on 1 March if the government does not address their grievances, a CGG source told IRIN on Thursday. "The situation is getting worse," the source said.

The CGG issued a statement on Monday calling on the government "to urgently and seriously address the needs of the doctors and nurses," in line with its constitutional responsiblities "towards ensuring that there are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons in the State."

Some patients have already discharged themselves as a result of the reduced numbers of medical personnel and subsequent lack of care, according to the source. "Most patients have gone home or to private hospitals, if they can afford it, or to the military hospital," the source said. The Sierra Leone Red Cross and the Military Red Cross are currently assisting some patients who are still in the state hospitals. CCG said there were unconfirmed reports that at least two patients had died since the strike started.

The doctors reportedly forwarded their demands to the government on 1 September 2001 while the President of the Nurses Association wrote to the authorities in December 2000. Both complain that despite assurances to the contrary, their demands have not been addressed, CGG reported.

In a statement this week the government denied that it had done nothing in response to their demands for salary increases and a reclassification of their grades. It said that following a review of the entire health service, conducted by the UN, an interim adjustment to nurses' and doctors' pay and scale, which was to be effective in January 2002, would be reflected in their salary at the end of February, including back pay for January.

It called on the nurses "to accept the interim arrangements that have been put in place until the final results were obtained from the comprehensive review".

The three state hospitals affected by the health workers' action are the Connaught Hospital, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), the biggest maternity unit in the country, and PCMH children's hospital.