Chairman, members of Sudan Doctors’ Union detained

Agents of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) detained the chairman and a member of the Sudanese Doctors’ Union on Sunday. Over the weekend, more than 25 physicians were questioned about the announced resumption of their strike.

Chairman Ahmed El Sheikh and Union member Ehsan Fugeiri were held in Khartoum, the spokesman for the Central Committee of Doctors, Hossam El Badawi, told Radio Dabanga.

The security apparatus summoned over 25 members of the Doctors’ Committee on Saturday and Sunday. “13 of them had to appear at NISS offices in Khartoum and Khartoum North. Only two of them were allowed to return home late on Sunday evening.

“More than 12 doctors had to report to NISS offices in Port Sudan, Atbara, El Damazin, Rabak, and Hasahisa ,” El Badawi said. “The four who were questioned in Ed Damazin have been released.

“The two doctors in Rabak were summoned while they were carrying out an operation,” he added, calling the action “unethical”.

The medical spokesman stressed that the doctors deployed at government hospitals “are determined not to bow to the pressure, and will down tools every Tuesdays and Wednesdays from this week onward, as decided by the Doctors’ Committee last week.”

On 6 October, doctors and medical professionals in various parts of Sudan embarked on an open-ended strike. They demanded protection while working, a pay rise, and better working conditions. A week later the medical staff of 136 state hospitals had joined the action.

After reaching an agreement with Sudan’s Second Vice-President and Health Minister two weeks later, the doctors temporarily called off the strike to give the government time to implement its commitments.

However, the authorities did not provide the much needed medical equipment and medicines to about 22 hospitals in the country as agreed. Free treatment in emergencies and for children under five was not implemented as well, El Badawi informed this station on Friday. “They also failed to reinstate the doctors dismissed during the strike.”