Doctors and support staff at Tonj State hospital went on strike on Monday to protest against pay cuts, in a move sure to disrupt a wide range of activities at the health facility.
Mathiang Agany, medical director of the Tonj State hospital, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that about 51 doctors and support staff protested a directive from the National Ministry of Health cutting salaries.
He pointed out that the striking workers are under contract with the Italian organization, Commitato Collabalazone Medica (CCM).
Agany said the ministerial order cuts salaries of doctors in Tonj State hospital from $1,000 to $600, while trained nurses have had their pay cut from $650 to $180.
“The organization that supports the hospital said the order was issued by the ministry of health. The ministry says government health workers should not get contracts from CCM organization,” he explained.
He noted that the ministry plans to standardize salary scales of government health workers in the country. “But most of the medical staff at Tonj State hospital are working for NGOs,” he said.
The South Sudanese doctor revealed that the state government was working to find a solution to the strike.