Health-e will be posting updates on the doctor strike as they becomes available.

2 July

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) called for the reinstatement of those dismissed after many provincial health departments were granted court interdicts compelling workers to return to work. Those who failed to comply with the order faced disciplinary action or dismissal.

2 July

Western Cape doctors vow to continue with their industrial action after being ordered by cabinet to return to their working posts.

Bradley Brits an intern doctor in Cape Town said the decision to strike was to show solidarity and support to their KwaZulu Natal counterparts who have been fired for taking part in an illegal industrial action and will not return to work until they are reinstated.

"We will continue to strike and provide only emergency services in hospitals until the fired doctors are reinstated", he said.

Brits said Western Cape doctors will hold a meeting tomorrow where they will decide whether to accept the latest offer.

2 July

Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba condemned striking doctors for depriving "the poorest of the poor" of health care, but also called on the government to expedite talks to meet doctors' needs.

He said in a statement:

"The strike is a sad state of affairs, as it once again hits the poorest of the poor. Those who have the means can go to private doctors, but the poor will go without care and some will die.

"Whilst we uphold the sanctity of life, and condemn illegal strikes in essential services, we also urge the relevant government bargaining chamber to expedite the doctors' needs.

"We also want to ask the health department to tell us what the effects of the strike are on the infant mortality rate. Are more babies dying as a result of this standoff?"

2 July

Government has released a statement calling on all medical professionals who are still on strike to return to work and resume their duties with immediate effect.

Cabinet said in a statement that the doctors and other health professionals could return work "with the knowledge that Government has listened, understands their plight and that conditions in our public health facilities will improve with time".

"As we work together to address the challenges, we all have the responsibility to ensure that our citizens do not end up being deprived of their constitutional rights to quality health care," Cabinet said in a statement.

The ministers also welcomed the news that some progress has been made in the negotiations with the unions regarding the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) for the medical sector.

"The labour dispute is doing considerable harm, adding more strain to an already strained public health sector and in the process, depriving ordinary South Africans access to desperately needed health care.

"Government acknowledges the challenges regarding the working conditions of our medical professionals. Government would like to reiterate that the salary level of doctors is not in dispute and we acknowledge that the working conditions of our doctors need to be addressed.

"Our offer demonstrates willingness to begin the process of addressing the low salary levels. Government believes that a lot of work still needs to be done to improve the pay issues as well as the broader challenges regarding the provision of access to quality health care to the majority of South Africans. That is why we have identified health care as one of the key priorities of the new government as stated in the electoral mandate.

"Government will continue to work tirelessly, in partnership with the representatives of the medical staff, to ensure that the working conditions in our public institutions are improved over time as these facilities provide essential services to South Africans, especially those who cannot afford private health care," Cabinet said.

2 July

Western Cape doctors have been asked to scrutinise the latest documents from the Bargaining Chamber.

The documents can be found at www.transmedx.co.za

2 July

KwaZulu-Natal doctors say that the University of KwaZulu-Natal heads of department have formally gone on record to fully support all fired workers and not return to work if all doctors are not reinstated.

"An injury to one is an injury to all, the provinces around KwaZulu-Natal have pledged their support and so has the province. Today Stanger joined your Durban protest to show that the firing of doctors will not be tolerated.

"Private doctors have come out in support, doctors that have not been fired have stood with their fellow doctors to show support," the KZN doctors said.

1 July

Deputy health minister Dr Molefi Sefularo meets with striking doctors at Groote Schuur Hospital.

1 July

THE Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa (Rudasa) called on its members who joined the strike over pay to return to work because the primary healthcare system was under strain.

Dr Elma de Vries, spokeswoman of Rudasa, said doctors had succeeded in raising the wage issue, but now it was time to refocus on the interests of poor rural patients.

"Our health system in rural areas is always strained and the strike made it worse. Most rural patients cannot afford private healthcare; they are mostly disadvantaged," she said.

De Vries said the association was not impressed with the government's pay increase offer, but understood there was a very limited budget to satisfy everyone.

"It seems to me that doctors are not familiar with labour issues. If you decide to embark on a strike, there should be a dispute being declared, but in this strike there was none," De Vries said.