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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter

The health sector is an essential service and its employees will no longer be allowed to strike as Government moves to implement provisions of the new national Constitution, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has said.

Responding to questions on newly introduced contracts for junior resident medical officers (JMROs), Dr Parirenyatwa said Government was simply interpreting the law but health workers still have room to air their grievances through appropriate channels.

“Any grievances are allowed to be aired but what is happening now, the new Constitution says that the health sector is an essential service and that is what they should read and that is what we are interpreting into this,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

Government through the Health Services Board (HSB) introduced contracts for JMROs which they finally signed last week following intense negotiations.

Part of the contract states that the JRMOs are not allowed to go on industrial action because they are deemed an essential service.

Details to follow….