By Tendai Makaripe
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Children in public hospitals could face treatment disruptions as health workers threaten service withdrawal over unresolved allowance disputes.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association said the government had failed to implement agreements reached through the Health Bipartite Negotiating Forum in May.
“Should the outstanding issues remain unresolved, health workers may be left with no option but to consider further collective action, including withdrawal of services, in pursuit of a resolution,” ZINA said in an August 13 statement.
A withdrawal could particularly affect newborns and children who require constant nursing care.
Nurses monitor babies in neonatal units, administer medication and respond when patients’ conditions deteriorate.
Reduced staffing could delay treatment for children with pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea, malnutrition and other serious illnesses.
The disruption could also affect maternity care, childhood vaccinations and treatment for children with chronic conditions.
Families who cannot afford private care, particularly in rural communities, would have few alternatives.
ZINA said the government agreed in May to review health-specific allowances and possibly introduce revised rates from June.
Health worker representatives submitted proposals, but ZINA said authorities had not provided a substantive response nearly three months later.
“Continued delays are worsening an already serious morale crisis among nurses, doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other health professionals, with potential consequences for the quality and sustainability of healthcare delivery,” the association said.
The allowances cover night duty, on-call and standby work, mental health services and uniforms.
ZINA said rising living costs had eroded their value since the last review in 2022.
ZINA said health workers had no dispute with patients and remained committed to dialogue.
It urged the government to implement the allowance review and establish the eight-member appeals committee that both sides agreed to create in May.
Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora told Parliament in July that the government was evaluating the proposals.
He said officials were consulting the Treasury and would consider revised allowances according to available fiscal space.
The government has not announced when it will complete the review.
