The Libyan Health Minister, Ali Al-Zanati, commented on the recent calls for a doctor strike, saying he understands the demands of health workers, and that protesting is a right.
In the video message broadcast by the Ministry, he stated that the health sector has been subjected to great pressure during the past years, and this pressure has worsened as a result of the state of division in the country.
“We appreciate maintaining basic services for patients and not stopping emergency services, obstetrics, oncology and kidneys. The right to demonstrate is guaranteed by law. Your demands will be an incentive to make the extra effort to achieve your just and legitimate demands,” he added in a speech directed to health workers.
The General Syndicate of Libyan Doctors (LGMC) announced that it would begin a partial strike on Sunday, in both the public and private sectors due to their low salary. On a statement on Tuesday, the LGMC said that the strike would continue until the activation of a governmental decision issued before to raise the salaries of health sector employees.
“There will be no strike in the departments of ambulance, emergency, emergency operations, childbirth, dialysis and sensitive care,” the statement noted.
The LCMC indicated that the doctors will sit in front of the headquarters of the Cabinet headquarter in Tripoli, and also in front of the House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk. It confirmed that the partial strike can be extended or escalated according to the government’s response to their demands.