North Darfur doctors go on strike over poor working conditions

August 1, 2106 (EL-FASHER) – Doctors at the main hospital in El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur state went on strike since July 28th to protest against government refusal to respond to their demands for improving working environment.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, general practitioners and intern doctors at El-Fasher Teaching Hospital said they launched the strike due to delay of their financial entitlements, deteriorating work environment and poor housing conditions.

“Our continued discussions with the hospital administration and the ministry [of health] didn’t yield any results due to the administration’s intransigence” read the statement

Last week, the director general of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur has sacked directors of several departments including the therapeutic medicine, basic health care, health planning and development, training and human resources development besides directors of thirty sub-departments.

The health sector in North Darfur suffers from administrative and financial problems besides the lack of qualified health professionals, medical equipments and the inappropriate doctors’ housing.

(ST)