Sudan’s doctors meet to discuss options

A meeting of the Sudanese Central Committee of Doctors was still in conclave in Khartoum at time of publishing, to decide their collective response to the government’s reluctance to meet its commitments.

The doctors originally planned to meet at the Khartoum Teaching Hospital, but a strong police and security presence prevented them from entering the hospital grounds.

They then moved on to the doctors’ accommodation, where they began their meeting later than planned.

Yesterday, the Committee complain that the government has not honoured its commitments in terms of the agreement that prompted them to lift their countrywide strike last Thursday.

No statements have yet been made about today’s meeting, byt reporters were told to “expect and important decision”.

Strike

On 6 October, medical professionals in various cities in the country embarked on an open-ended strike, in protest against repeated attacks on doctors and medical professionals. They demanded protection while working, a pay rise, and better working conditions. A week later the medical staff of 136 state hospitals had downed tools.

Many Sudanese medical associations supported the action, as well as Sudanese expat doctors in Britain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

The Sudanese Journalists’ Network also expressed support for the “legitimate demands of the doctors” and called on all media to reflect the causes of the doctors.

Press curbs

The security services however banned newspapers from publishing any news about the strike by forcing editors adopt a line hostile to the striking medics. In addition, the Sudanese security apparatus flooded the social media with confusing and conflicting reports about the doctors’ protest and demands.