Doctors in Sierra Leone have announced they’ll be going on an indefinite strike as of July 2, 2020, over nonpayment of allowances by government to doctors working in Treatment and Isolation centers countrywide, according to a statement released by the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA).
This came as country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed 60 lives and 1,462 cumulative confirmed cases in the country so far.
SLMDA said in statement on Wednesday that, the MoU signed between the government of Sierra Leone and healthcare workers of April 2020 expired on June 30, 2020 and to date no other engagement has been made.
“The public is also informed of the nonpayment of allowances to our doctors working in Treatment and Isolation centers countrywide for the duration of the MoU. In view of this, the SLMDA is giving notice that all medical doctors in treatment and isolation centers will withhold their services within 24 hours of this notice.”
SLMDA stated that all non-COVID-19 services will continue at all hospitals as doctors will be at work, adding that this situation will continue till all promised allowances are paid in full.
In a related development, the President of Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA), Dr Delwin M. Findlay has on Tuesday informed member s that, the non-COVID -19 Services are being neglected in hospitals.
His comment came in a letter written to members of SLMDA to update them on the ongoing health situation in Sierra Leone as concerns their doctors.
“There are reports of shortages on a daily basis especially with the Free Healthcare services. No sutures, even paracetamol for children are not available. We as an executive will continue to impress on MOHS [Ministry of Health and Sanitation] on the need for basic supplies. If announcements are made on electronic media everyday supplies should be made available as a matter of must,” said Dr. Findlay.
Giving update on the health allowance to health workers, he said, “Today 30th June marks the end of the initial three-month agreement by government of Sierra Leone with healthcare workers on COVID-19 allowances.”
He explained that when the Ministry of Finance issued a statement on June 2, 2020, which erroneously stated that all allowances to date had already been paid, the SLMDA released a counter statement debunking the claims of the Ministry of Finance.
“As a result of this, the pay slip of Dr. Samba Jalloh, General Secretary of SLMDA, was published on social media with comments that he had already been paid and that the views of the SLMDA were politically motivated influenced by myself the President of SLMDA,” said Dr Findlay. “Our investigations revealed that little or no effort was made to obtain and verify lists of staff at Isolation and Treatment Centres. It seemed that the authorities were devoid of a working plan to do the verification. The executive team headed by the Vice-President, undertook to obtain lists from all Medical Superintendents nationwide, unaided by the Ministry of Finance or any other form of logistics. These lists were produced and have been in the possession of IHPAU, NACOVERC and the Ministry of Finance for more than 2 (two) weeks and still payments have not been made.”
He stated that to date they have lost two association members to COVID-19 – Dr. Samuel B. Sesay and Dr. Peter M. George. He added that one of the points on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they signed with the Government of Sierra Leone was the provision of compensation to the families of deceased doctors.
“This has now been developed into a Special COVID-19 Life Insurance Policy under the National Insurance Company (NIC) with GOSL [Government of Sierra Leone] paying the premium for initial one year,” Dr Findlay disclosed. “This policy includes a compensation of 15% of annual gross salary to any doctor that contracts COVID-19 and survives Death compensation of 24 (twenty-four) months gross salary to the next of kin of the deceased Critical Illness compensation of up to 50% annual gross salary for any verifiable costs incurred during illness. This will come into effect on 1st July 2020.”
He added that the two already deceased doctors are not within the coverage period of this policy, noting however, that the compensation to the families of Dr. Samuel Sesay and Dr. Peter George will be paid by GOSL. “This policy will remain in place after COVID-19 as a Life Insurance Policy for all government doctors,” he said.
Updating on availability of drug, Dr Findlay explained that the availability of drugs and supplies in Isolation and Treatment Centres is a big headache. “With all the money flowing into the COVID-19 fight it seems” it is easier and more important to buy brand new SUVs than buying much needed drugs and equipment for Isolation and treatment centres, making us the laughing stock of Africa and the world,” he emphasized.
He pleaded with the other health workers to treat every case as potentially COVID-19 infection until proven otherwise, encouraging them to stay united in the fight against our common enemy – COVID -19.
By Stephen V. Lansana
2/7/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7856