A go-slow went under way on Monday this week as disgruntled state doctors threatened to strike next month.

They will strike if the Department of Health does not properly implement their Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) salary increments.

The Timeslive reported that Dr Lebogang Phahladira, a member of the SA Medical Association and spokesman for junior doctors, said doctors are now refusing to work long hours and during their lunch breaks.
He added that a lot of doctors are also angry about the mismanagement of the implementation of the OSD, which has resulted in a fluctuation of salaries. 

“Threats of a strike action therefore go against the spirit and commitments made by the parties in implementing the OSD,” the department said in a statement found in the SAPA report.
Last year state doctors, pharmacists, dentists and paramedics took part in a national illegal strike insisting on the implementation of OSD and a 50% salary hike.

Dr Mark Torres-Holmes, an ENT consultant at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital said his salary is not sufficient considering his position in the medical hierarchy.
Torres-Holmes added that the OSD is still very vague to doctors and many do not know how it works.  “I was apparently overpaid in three different occasions and as a result I had to give the money back [afterwhich] I was underpaid,” he said.  

He suggested doctors are threatening to strike because of the government’s failure to implement the OSD.  He went on to say that it’s appalling what doctors are being paid in South Africa. “Its no wonder most of the skilled doctors leave to work overseas,” he stated.

A first year Wits intern, Farhaan Williams, works at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and has not experienced problems with his salary.
Aneesa Mamoojee, a 5th year medical student, also training at the Chris Hani Baragwanath, said the strike is completely justified.  “A medical degree is one of the most difficult to attain and doctors should be paid for what they’re worth,” she added.

Two 5th year medical students, who asked not to be named, said government has to pay doctors decent salaries in order to retain them.  “We chose this profession to help people, especially those who are in desperate need of healthcare,” they added, “the government has to realize that we also have families to provide for.”

As well as salaries, the lack of resources at public hospitals bears a lot of challenges for doctors in South Africa.  Chris Hani Baragwanath does not have inadequate and efficient medical equipment, resulting in a backlog for doctors.
During his budget speech, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that Chris Hani Baragwanath is set for major revamping due to the public-private partnerships in the health sector.

“The partnering of the public and private sectors is a possible solution to a successful health system,” said Dr Mark Torres-Holmes.
Spokesman of the South African Medical Association said on Tuesday that there was still no official call for a strike.  Asked how the strike would affect students, he said “the strike would be a disaster for [them].”