MOH highlights rules against ‘illegal gathering’ day before doctors' strike

 

The Health Ministry (MOH) has given a subtle warning to government doctors thinking about participating in tomorrow's strike.

Taking to Facebook, the MOH shared a guideline by its integrity unit reminding civil servants that they are not allowed to participate in "illegal gatherings".

Its definition of "illegal gathering" included "using office time and leaving the office to observe or participate in a gathering".

The guideline also warned against using government office facilities to print or circulate material related to the "illegal gathering".

The Facebook post came ahead of tomorrow's planned strike by contract doctors at public hospitals which the MOH made no mention of.

The initiative is being organised by the Hartal Kontrak Doktor, a collective operated by a group of contract doctors to avoid revealing their names as they may face government reprisal.

The contract doctors are lobbying for better job security and career prospects.

Meanwhile, Hartal Kontrak Doktor, in a statement, outlined how the contract doctors can participate in the one-day strike.

It called on all contract doctors to ensure that the handover to permanent doctors before walking out.

They are to gather at their hospital lobbies in accordance with the standard operating procedure where they will then walkout at 11am.

For contract doctors in critical services, it said they are to return to their post if needed.

They are also encouraged to bring placards and to share the walkout on social media.

Government junior contract doctors face the risk of losing their job after the end of their five-year training at government hospitals.

There is a lack of permanent positions at public hospitals due to the government's budgetary constraints.

As a result, many of them have to move to the private sector or continue their specialist training abroad.

On Friday (July 23), the government offered to extend their contracts for up to six years but stopped short of offering permanent positions.

However, it promised to ensure similar perks with permanent doctors. 

Hartal Kontrak Doktor described it as "half-cooked", stressing that offering contract extension was not the solution.  - Mkini