Govt talks with striking doctors to continue Wednesday

Government is expected to continue negotiations with striking doctors on Wednesday to discuss the remaining issues that will be factored into the conditions of service.

Doctors on Thursday declared a nationwide strike action in protest of the absence of a condition of service document.

The doctors took the action following a stalemate in a discussion with the doctors over certain demands in their request on Wednesday night.

Four days into their industrial action, patients who have visited public hospitals across the country are already feeling the pinch as they have had to return to their homes unattended to.

Striking medical doctors are demanding among others 30 percent of their basic salaries as book allowance from government as part of their conditions of service.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has put out a well thought out strategy to reduce the impact of the strike action by doctors.

Some of the measures include the call on all heads of directories in all health facilities to be at post to work with the other non-striking staff available during the period of the strike.

Head of the various units are also to ensure that there are continuous emergency services, including maternity services at all health services.

Furthermore all ambulance services are to remain on standby for emergency services.