Sudanese doctors summoned by security apparatus

On Wednesday, the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) detained at least five doctors, and summoned ‘dozens more’ to its offices in various states of Sudan.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Central Committee of the Sudanese Doctors says Jihad Abdelmoneim, Hassan Karar, Omer Ahmed Saleh, Husamuldin El Amin and Mohammad Abdullah were all detained, and are still being held without charge.

The statement demands that the doctors should either be released or charged.

Strike

The Committee said that the strike planned to be carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday includes more than 60 hospitals in addition to the university hospitals in Sudan.

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.

Agreement

After reaching an agreement with the Vice-President and the federal Minister of Health Bahar Abu Garda on 20 October, the doctors temporarily called off the strike. Last week, they extended the suspension to give the government more time to implement its commitments.

Dr Hossam El Ameen El Badawi, the spokesman for the Doctors’ Committee, told Radio Dabanga that the physicians would resume their strike for two days on Tuesday. “We will continue to down tools two days every week throughout the month. Emergencies, critical situations, and intensive care treatment in the wards will be continued.”

‘Irresponsible act’

The State Minister of Health, Sumeiya Idris, has accused the striking doctors of violating the agreement.

She told the Sudanese Centre for Press Services of the Security Apparatus that “the decision by the doctors to resume the strike is an irresponsible act that will be dealt with decisively”, and denied that there was not any timetable on implementing the brokered agreement.