"Health Service Amendment Act Will Worsen Exodus Of Health Workers"

The recently signed Health Service Amendment Act will worsen the exodus of health workers and put more pressure on those who remain on their jobs, a health expert has said.

Speaking to NewsDay on Tuesday, Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said:

It is unfortunate that health workers are caught in the middle of a system that is slow to respond to their needs and ethical pressures not to take collective job action.

The unpopular Health Services Act will most likely exacerbate the exodus of health workers from the country thereby putting extra pressure on those who will remain on their jobs.

Rusike urged the government to address the conditions of service for health workers to plug the brain drain.

Under the Act, government health workers cannot go on strike for more than 3 continuous days within a two-a-week period.

During a strike, they should continue to provide Emergency Services

The Act also says incitement to job action against set conditions can lead to criminal prosecution.