The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has warned its membership against joining “fly by night” unions bent on causing division within the medical profession.
The warning came as a reaction to the formation of a new splinter doctors association, representing junior doctors with its mandate being to end the current impasse which has seen a number of doctors doing on strike for more than 100 days while patients continue to lose lives.
The new splinter group, the Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ) was launched in Harare this Saturday with its president, Dr Benson Dandira describing the situation in the health services sector as an undesirable turn of events.
In its statement, ZHDA said the formation of PDAZ was expected considering machinations of the state against the doctors cause for better working conditions.
“It is not unexpected in such setting to witness the formation of splinter groups each with the aim to cause division drive personal agendas and worst of all capitalize on the destitution of the populace.
“It is against this background that we strongly caution our members to remain vigilant and by all means to distance themselves from such an association that surface at the 11th hour, jeopardizing all progress that has been through the negotiation process,” noted ZHDA.
During the launch of the new splinter group, Dr Dandira said their hearts were bleeding owing to the ongoing impasse between doctors and their employer over salary issues.
“As medical professionals, the world we have created over the past few months leaves a lot to be desired. We have seen the unfolding of undesirable events in the nation’s health sector. Today mark’s day 103 of ongoing doctor’s incapacitation that began on 3 September 2019.
“Our conscience are heavy and our hearts are bleeding. Our people keep suffering unnecessarily and are dying from preventable diseases. Someone has to do something,” he said.
