The Ussene Isse described the strike by health sector professionals as “a sadness,” acknowledging problems following the announcement of its extension for another 30 days, which has heightened the emergency situation across the country.
“Right now, there are colleagues who understood the message and are working on the ground. We are now in a moment of emergency nationwide. It is a sadness to talk about a strike, as our focus is on helping the population — that is our mission,” said the minister.
Quoted by Lusa, the minister called for dialogue to end the strike, recognizing the existing issues in the health sector. “We will continue to dialogue to overcome our differences. We are available; we are not at war, nor do we want to be,” he reiterated.
On Monday, 16 February, the United and Solidary Health Professionals Association of Mozambique (APSUSM) announced the extension of the strike, stating that more than 725 people have died due to a lack of medical care in health facilities since January. “Despite repeated public demonstrations and formal calls for dialogue, the government continues to adopt a confrontational and hardline stance, instead of taking a responsible approach aimed at resolving the structural problems affecting the national health sector,” said APSUSM president Anselmo Muchave.
According to Muchave, the extension of the health professionals’ strike, which began on 16 January in protest over the full payment of the 2025 13th salary — against the 40% approved by the government — and for better working conditions, results from the absence of a “serious, transparent, and productive” dialogue with the government.
Muchave explained that during the so-called “arms-crossed strike,” health centers continue to operate under very poor conditions, with recurring shortages of essential medicines, insufficient surgical medical supplies, and inadequate conditions to provide dignified care to the population.
“In this struggle this month, we, health professionals, mourn the loss of more than 725 Mozambicans due to the lack of care in health facilities, food, transfers, medicines, and medical-surgical supplies. That is why we say our fight will not stop,” he emphasized.
Based on a recent announcement of a closed tender for medicine procurement valued at $465 million, Muchave noted that “this shows that Mozambique still lacks medicines, with avoidable deaths in health facilities increasing daily due to the continuous degradation of the National Health System (SNS).”
The APSUSM president, representing approximately 65,000 health professionals from various departments, reaffirmed openness to a “serious, responsible dialogue aimed at concrete results.” He also stressed that, as long as there is no real commitment or structural solutions from the government, “the strike will continue.”
In recent years, the National Health System has faced multiple periods of pressure due to employee strikes.
The country currently has 1,778 health units, including 107 health posts, three specialized hospitals, four central hospitals, seven general hospitals, seven provincial hospitals, 22 rural hospitals, and 47 district hospitals, according to the most recent Ministry of Health data.
Source: Diário Económico
