26 June 2009
The African National Congress and Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal have released a press release condemning doctors for their "unprofessional" strike action in the province.
In a strongly worded statement, the alliance partners suggested doctors were being unreasonable and had thwarted attempts by National Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and the provincial MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, to reach an agreement.
They accused doctors of refusing to stick with the process and channels available to them.
The statement goes on to blames the callous strike action for the deaths of patients and to welcome threats of dismissal against striking doctors.
Here is the full text of the press release:
"The Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal appeals to the striking doctors to put the lives of patients first and to return to work with immediate effect. As the Alliance we condemn the unprofessional manner in which certain individuals want this matter to be addressed.
"While we understand and sympathies with the working conditions and salary complaints of the doctors, we cannot condone this continued illegal strike which has become somewhat of a wild cat strike.
"As the Alliance we believe that the government has done its best and shown its commitment improving the working conditions and salary complaints of doctors.
"The National Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has even gone to the extent of making the government's offer public before even tabling it at the Bargaining Council which was an unprecedented move.
"The MEC in KwaZulu-Natal Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has also engaged with the doctors directly and even presented them a proposed offer in an attempt to resolve the matter at hand.
"It has however become apparent that doctors in KwaZulu-Natal do not want to use the proper channels and platforms to resolve their challenges and are prolonging this illegal strike unnecessarily.
"Their callous actions have led to the deaths of patients with many other patients in critical condition not being attended to. This goes against the principles of the Hippocratic Oath that these doctors pledged when choosing this selfless career.
"As the Alliance we therefore support the Department of Health's decision to take decisive action against those doctors who refuse to return to work. We urge these doctors to put the interest of the people at heart and to further consider the implications of this unprotected strike and return to work with immediate effect.
"We also urge all members of the ANC, Cosatu, the South African Communist Party and SANCO who are part of this strike to pull out and return to work with immediate effect.
Furthermore we call on all retired doctors and medical professionals to help by offering their services in hospital where there is a shortage of doctors."
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