Health professionals across the country began a new period of strike last week, which involves providing services only between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM, with shifts on holidays and weekends also suspended.
The situation is overwhelming the National Health System (SNS) due to the inadequate service provision. However, despite the various constraints, the Association of United and Supportive Health Professionals of Mozambique (APSUSM) has threatened to intensify the strike for a period of 30 days, extendable, if there is no response from the government.
“During this week, if the government does not reach an agreement with us, we will be forced to worsen the strike with the implementation of new measures,” said APSUSM president Anselmo Muchave in a press conference on Monday (21).
In his statement, the leader revealed that the petition document was resubmitted in January, right after the inauguration of the new government led by Daniel Chapo, emphasizing that it is known to all.
“The government must accept and acknowledge that, as health professionals, we should receive gratitude for all the bullets and blood we handle. That’s why we say we are not slaves in our own land,” he added.
Causes of the Claims
For three years, APSUSM has demanded that the government provide medicines to hospitals, given the need for patients to sometimes purchase them themselves, as well as the acquisition of hospital beds.
Other demands include resolving the “lack of food,” equipping ambulances with emergency materials, and providing non-disposable personal protective equipment, the absence of which “forces employees to buy with their own money,” in addition to better alignment with the Single Salary Table (TSU).
In March, the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, warned that a potential strike in the sector would be “a disaster,” calling for dialogue with the professionals.
The National Health System has faced several pressure points over the last two years due to strikes by employees, initially called by the Mozambique Medical Association (AMM) and later by APSUSM, which represents about 65,000 health professionals from various departments, primarily demanding improvements in working conditions.
The country has a total of 1,778 health units, 107 of which are health posts, three are specialized hospitals, four are central hospitals, seven are general hospitals, seven provincial hospitals, 22 rural hospitals, and 47 district hospitals, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.
