SOUTH AFRICA: Archbishop criticizes striking doctors, calls on government to improve conditions

By ENS staff, July 02, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town has criticized doctors on strike in South Africa for depriving "the poorest of the poor" of health care, but also called on the government to expedite talks to meet doctors' needs.

In a July 2 statement, Makgoba called the strike "a sad state of affairs" noting that "those who have the means can go to private doctors, but the poor will go without care and some will die."

South Africa's government has urged doctors, protesting over low wages and poor working conditions, to return to work. According to reports, government spokesman Themba Maseko said it is committed to "working tirelessy" to improving conditions in public health facilities and the low salaries of doctors. It is illegal for doctors to strike in South Africa.

"Whilst we uphold the sanctity of life, and condemn illegal strikes in essential services, we also urge the relevant goverment bargaining chamber to expedite the doctors' needs," said Makgoba. "We also want to ask the health department to tell us what the effects of the strike are on the infant mortality rate. Are more babies dying as a result of this standoff?"

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