Young doctors to return to work after public apology to minister

The dispute between suspended postgraduate medical students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the country’s Ministry of Health ended on 13 October, following a televised apology by the young doctors to the Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga over their industrial action.

Information and Publicity Minister Nick Mangwana published a statement on his Twitter handle stating that the suspension of the University of Zimbabwe masters students in medicine as well as in obstetrics and gynaecology had been lifted following a “lengthy engagement between the doctors and Health and Childcare Minister Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga”.

The statement came with a video attached, which showed the medical practitioners taking turns to ask for forgiveness.

“We are really sorry about the events that have led to our suspension. We hope you are going to find it in your heart to forgive us to finish our studies and serve the community,” said Dr Maxwell Chimhina, a representative of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology training group during the meeting, which was aired on the Zimbabwean national broadcasting channel on 12 October.

A message to striking professionals

During the meeting between officials and young doctors, a lecturer from University of Zimbabwe Walter Mangezi also pleaded on behalf of the registrars. He stated that they appreciated the government for providing training which was expensive and appealed for a decision that would allow for students to return to the institution and complete their studies.

The Deputy Minister of Health, John Mangwiro, also interceded on behalf of the registrars, calling for the restriction on their studies to be removed as “they are good doctors who regret their actions”.

Before the public apology ten trainee doctors from different parts of the country and several government officials met at the Ministry of Health offices. These students had been part of the strike that had stretched for over two months, which had led to the suspension of classes at the University of Zimbabwe on 23 September by the ministry.

In the suspension letter issued by Dr Noah Mutongoreni, UZ dean of medicine and health sciences, students were banned from public hospitals after they requested personal protective equipment, foetal monitors, functional theatre rooms, among others, to allow them to effectively undertake their clinical duties.

Doctors to join the army?

The conflict and the public apology that ensured the students’ return to work caused public outrage and critics refer to the incident as one of the government’s attempts to turn the health sector into an extension of the military.

This follows concerns over plans by the government to recruit medical graduates into the Zimbabwe Defence Force.

But in a government response Mangwiro said in parliament on 7 October junior doctors who did not complete their courses and who are willing can join the army, police or prisons, but if there is a vacancy through the Ministry of Health, they can be employed.

“So it is not mandatory, but what we are saying is that there are vacancies in the army, police or prison service,” said Mangwiro.