Medical personnel form union to seek better deal

Sama, a non-statutory professional organisation for public and private sector medical practitioners, has often acted as a trade union for its public sector members. But the growing number of issues faced by doctors in public institutions has necessitated the need for a fully fledged trade union, it said.

The union held its first elective congress in Boksburg at the weekend after adopting its constitution in March. It elected Dr Phophi Ramathuba as its first president.

Ramathuba said concerns faced by doctors in state service generally revolve around working conditions, security in hospitals and clinics, low salaries, a lack of equipment and a shortage of drugs.

In 2009, junior doctors, mostly from George Mukhari Hospital in Pretoria, went on an unprecedented strike for two weeks, complaining about delays in the implementation of the occupation-specific dispensation (OSD). The OSD is often used by the government to improve salaries and working conditions in certain categories of civil servants, including doctors, nurses and teachers.

However, its implementation has been riddled with a number of challenges, including delays. As a result, the government continues to battle to retain highly sought-after professionals such as doctors and to improve low morale.

Different type of union

Ramathuba said having a formal trade union was an attempt to create a controlled environment for negotiations between doctors and their employer, the state. She said this would help avoid a repeat of the 2009 strike, as doctors are not allowed to go on strike.

"Ours is a different union - hence we remain within the medical association. Other unions can put up a recovery plan, but as doctors we can't dig up the grave and say we're going to resuscitate a person," she said.

"Doctors who practise in the military, police service, universities and the country's intelligence structures do not enjoy the benefits of being employed by the Department of Health," Ramathuba added.

"By keeping the union within the association, Sama aimed to emulate the British Medical Association, which is both a professional body and a trade union," Ramathuba said. The Canadian Medical Association also has a similar structure.

Desmond Kegakilwe, chairman of the Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa, which is not affiliated to the new union, welcomed the union, saying it was difficult for state-sector doctors to negotiate labour issues as individuals. Some have thus joined the National Health and Education Workers Union.

"Right now we're debating whether doctors should be allowed to go on strike or not. The fact of the matter is that without a formal structure, it's difficult to negotiate salaries in government," Kegakilwe said.

"However, the union is not going to be only about rands and cents," Ramathuba said. "It is also to advocate for patients. Sometimes there's no food for patients and doctors have to take their own money and buy food," she added.

Speaking at the congress this weekend, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor pleaded with delegates to put their professional work first. She said of late, unions have tended to focus on advocacy while neglecting their professional responsibilities.

The Sama union has more than 9,000 members, including those individuals who take on shifts in the private sector.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge