Bruised doctors soldier on
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday August 29, 2023 17:56
Justice Mphetlhe's ruling declared the doctors' actions an unlawful strike, triggered by a press release that called for the suspension of emergency call duties from August 1, 2023. In response, Dr Kefilwe Selema, the president of the union, expressed their disappointment with the government's approach. He also outlined their plans for addressing the ongoing challenges within the country's public health sector. Selema voiced his concern that government's legal actions seemed more geared towards suppressing the doctors' rights rather than seeking swift resolutions to the pressing issues within the public health system.
Nevertheless, BDU affirmed its commitment to abide by the court's decision."Ours is a notable profession anchored on humanitarianism and we urge our members to continue to espouse this core principle which we pride ourselves in. We further note that failure by any person employed under any sector designated as essential service might attract criminal charges and we advise our members to abide by the laws of the country no matter how unjust such may be," he stated. Looking to the future, the union acknowledged that the court's ruling did not provide a definitive resolution to their concerns.
Selema acknowledged the forthcoming challenges and expressed their unwavering determination to improve working conditions for their members. The union bemoaned the breakdown of prior mediation efforts and expressed their willingness to explore alternative solutions, including arbitration as stipulated by law. They assured members of their commitment to exhaust every lawful avenue to enhance working conditions. They also indicated their intention to broaden efforts beyond governmental bodies, involving all stakeholders, particularly the citizens they serve. The union raised concerns about the government's apparent lack of dedication to addressing the deep-seated issues plaguing the public health service. They criticised the government's decision to resort to legal action rather than pursuing mediation, interpreting it as a lack of concern for workers' well-being and the quality of public health services.
"We inform our members that we were always prepared to seek an amicable solution at mediation but government resolved to abandon the process following the filing of the urgent application. The government knew that even after getting their interdict, the issues on the table would not be resolved and still abandoned the mediation process. This shows a lack of commitment by government to fix the public health service and remain resolute to deliver a world-class public health system for our people. It is evident that the government’s only concern is the continued subjugation of workers which is evidenced by poor working conditions and slave wages across the board not just our profession," Selema expressed. Given the precarious state of the public health system and the waning morale of workers, the union critiqued the government's recklessness, attributing it to the further deterioration of the system. The union expressed its earnest intent to collaborate with the government to uplift worker morale and rejuvenate the health system. However, they acknowledged the challenges they faced in achieving this goal. While their primary focus remains on selfless service to the people, the union underscored their responsibility towards the welfare of their members.
"If the government does not come to the party, we are going to seek better avenues where our people can enjoy good working conditions and remuneration. If that calls for us to export our talent, which would be regrettable, we would do that to protect the welfare of our members," he affirmed. The union urged citizens to implore members of Parliament to intervene and prevent the impending collapse of the health system. They stressed the urgency of the situation and called on the public to take action before it's too late.