Doctors strike continues

More than 40 people have died in Zimbabwean state hospitals because of the on-going doctors strike, reports said on Thursday.

Health officials were quoted saying that although they could not confirm figures they had received reports of deaths related to the strike at three state hospitals.

Officials said the deaths were due to alleged neglect by striking doctors and nurses. Doctors and nurses are demanding more pay and better allowances. The ‘Herald’ said on Wednesday that army doctors had been called to help at some of the state hospitals. Health Minister Timothy Stamps was quoted saying that although he had not yet received figures, 26 reported deaths were not abnormal. “If you consider that we have more than 2,000 people dying every day of HIV/AIDS then those figures are not abnormal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the independent ‘Daily News’ said on Thursday that the Harare Central Hospital was releasing bodies for burial without conducting autopsies. The newspaper said the mortuary was filled beyond capacity.

An official at the hospital was quoted saying: “The situation is terrible.
The shortage of doctors has resulted in bodies being discharged before an autopsy is conducted. Some bodies are also being taken to the mortuary without doctors’ certification of death.”

Meanwhile, Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo has run out of X-Ray films after failing to pay its suppliers, the newspaper said. Dr Juliet Dube-Ndebele, the medical superintendent, said the company had cut supplies because of non-payment.