Doctors in Tambura State have threatened to go on strike in a dispute over unpaid salaries.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, several doctors in Najero and Tambura Counties accused the state ministry of health of failing to pay salaries of more than 400 doctors and support staff.

The complaining doctors said they did not receive salaries since the National Ministry of Health directed health organizations to stop paying salaries to health workers across the country in March.

The doctors asked the government to ensure the salaries are paid or they down their tools on July 31. However, the medical staff said talks are ongoing with the state ministry of health to meet their demands.

For his part, the state minister of health David Paulino Simbi confirmed that doctors in Tambura and Najero Counties are threatening to go on strike over unpaid salaries.

“I have received a letter from the doctors in the two counties. They used to receive salaries from organizations since South Sudan independence, but those organizations stopped from paying salaries after a directive from the national ministry of health,” he said.

Simbi noted that talks are ongoing to find a solution to the matter.” I told the doctors to continue working as we meet with the undersecretary of the national ministry of health to discuss the issue,” he said.

“They plan to go on strike on 31 July if the government fails to release their salaries,” he explained.

The state minister pointed out that there are more than 400 doctors and support staff in the two counties.