The Ethiopian health sector has remained paralysed as more nationwide strikes by medical workers continue with mass arrests by the police.
The government has admitted that the strike action was causing a crippling situation for hospitals and other medical facilities whose personnel have refused to at least partially go back to work.
The total number of health workers arrested for participating in the nationwide strike has reached 106, the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association confirmed to APA over the weekend.
Nine strikers, who were detained for allegedly coordinating the ongoing strike across Ethiopia, appeared before a court on Wednesday.
The police accused all the nine of “inciting riot and violence” and “collaborating with anti-peace forces,” Melese Bata, Vice President of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association told APA.
The Vice President alleged that the authorities have responded to peaceful wage demands with arbitrary arrests, threats, and workplace harassment.
A senior member of the association told APA on condition of anonymity that the police accused all the nine suspects of coordinating and leading the nation-wide strike and being collectively responsible for the loss of life that “occurred due to their absence from work.”
State Minister of Health, Dereje Duguma, in a televised interview recently warned that the government would terminate professional licenses of those health professionals who are currently participating in a nationwide strike.
“The health professionals must return to their duties. Otherwise, it will become increasingly difficult for them to continue practicing—whether in public or private health institutions,” he said.
The strike, primarily driven by demands for better pay, improved working conditions and systemic reforms, has seen extensive participation from medical professionals, including residents and physicians in training.
The state minister alleged that the strike impacted emergency services. “Leaving behind children in critical care and mothers in labour is a serious and inexcusable mistake,” he said.
“The health sector should never be interrupted—not even for a minute.”
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed the widespread intimidation, arrests, and deteriorating healthcare conditions as the strike by the country’s health workers rumbles on.
The situation highlights the urgent need for a prompt and appropriate resolution; the commission said adding that it is currently monitoring the actions taken by both the government and healthcare professionals.
The country’s ministry of health late last week warned that those healthcare professionals participating in the national strike will face criminal charges, cautioning that “strikes in the health sector are legally prohibited.”
MG/as/APA