The president of the Tunisian association of young doctors, Wajih Dhakhar, denounced the absence of real will on the part of the ministry of tutelage to resolve the crisis of young doctors, initiate serious negotiations around their demands and improve their material conditions in order to retain them in the public system.
He said the Ministry of Health has expressed his understanding of their requests that he deems “legitimate”, but said he was unable to open the discussion on any financial aspect due to legal and administrative blockages.
Guest of the Midi Show show this Tuesday, Wajih Dhakhar stressed that the Minister of Health considers that the complementary work system could improve the financial situation of doctors, but “we are already working 120 hours a week, we simply do not have time to use it,” he said.
Faced with this situation, the Tunisian organization of young doctors decided to go on a five -day strike from June 12.
Emergencies will continue to operate normally
Wajih Dhakhar said that the emergency service of all hospitals will normally continue, while other services will continue to operate thanks to other doctors. He denounced a form of contempt on the part of the Minister, who considered that young doctors being still in training, their strike would have no major impact on the functioning of hospitals.
He also challenged the Minister’s statements claiming that young doctors in Tunisia perceive the highest wages in the Maghreb, calling them “false and unfounded”.
Disturbing migratory hemorrhage
Regarding departures abroad, Wajih Dhakhar recalled that the number of doctors having emigrated was 266 in 2010, against 1,590 in 2023, an evolution which he considers as a direct reflection of the degradation of their working conditions.