The demand for a 50% salary increment for public sector doctors is not arbitrary, the South African Medical Association (Sama) said on Wednesday.
The association was reacting to statements by the Health Department that ”such a demand is arbitrary, condones a one-size-fits-all approach and will not address the disparities that the OSD [Occupational Specific Dispensation] seeks to address”.
”This data was supplied to the then Minister of Health Barbara Hogan and that [department deputy director ] Dr Percy Mahlathi now finds it necessary to criticise these figures is regarded with outrage by Sama, when in the midst of the bargaining process,” said Sama spokesperson Adri van Eeden.
Van Eeden emphasised that these figures were based on careful research performed by an independent organisation, which had also advised other professions on the real value of their services.
”No process can be started and then continued without a sound base, and this is precisely why these figures have been made available to the department.”
The salary adjustments were due for implementation last July. But according to the Health Department, the delay was due to problems that arose in the implementation of the OSD in the nursing profession.
The department said it was now questionable whether Sama really wanted this matter resolved or not.
Taking exception to this statement, Van Eeden said: ”Sama’s commitment has been repeatedly demonstrated by the fact that despite the OSD matter having dragged on for two years, it has consistently persisted in obtaining adequate remuneration and better working conditions for our public sector doctors.”
She said they hoped the department committed itself to a ”substantial offer” in the negotiating process and improved doctors’ remuneration.
”The fact that doctors are angry is precisely because of these type of comments made by the department, instead of focusing on speeding up the process around the OSD.”
Sama members were expected to march in Pretoria on Friday and have threatened to continue with more strike action until their demands are met.
To keep doors open during the protest action could include using military medics and transferring critically ill patients to better staffed facilities, said Health Department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe.
Doctors have been advised to apply for a day’s leave to cover their participation in the march, with Sama saying the employer was responsible for ensuring that there was a replacement staffer available if leave was granted.
Last month, doctors were given dismissal letters when they went on an illegal strike which saw many patients being turned away from hospitals.
However, these were replaced with warning letters after they agreed to recommit themselves to the negotiation process and return to work.
Negotiations between the government and Sama have been put on hold.
Doctors around the country recently staged lunchtime pickets to show their dissatisfaction over government’s offer tabled at the bargaining council.
Meanwhile, the Doctors Forum, still waiting to be a recognised as a legal structure after walking out of negotiations last week citing ”irreconcilable differences”, has upped Sama’s 50% demand to 70%.
They said this was how much doctors were actually underpaid. — Sapa