by Christopher Makaza

Netizens across the country have applauded Vice President Constantine Chiwenga`s sentiments during a NatPharm visit in Harare yesterday that Government is considering changing internship conditions for junior doctors to avert future work disruptions that expose patients to risk.

Citizens accuse junior doctors of indiscipline, failing to honour their oath and deliberately engaging in routine strikes. Junior doctors went on strike at the beginning of December demanding salary increase and better working conditions.

Cyber troll @mmatigari on his twitter page posted, “Many will disagree, but I agree with Vice President Chiwenga on issue of doctors, the same way I agreed with him last year on issue of nurses. Our people must learn to have discipline. It will be a long ride, but it will come right. Discipline, discipline, discipline! You don’t have to agree!

“It’s a free market. The government can only afford a certain salary. If one wants a higher salary, let them go to a market that pays well. The same people who celebrate sanctions are same people who whine when austerity is implemented to reign in expenditure. No pain no gain.”

Supporting Vice President Chiwenga, Zandatoto tweeted, “I agree junior doctors and health profession in general must respect Oath and cure greed. However, efforts must be made to meet affordable demands. I disagree on appeal they must go back and save lives yet say they’re just but interns - it’s not the title but their role in our health system.”

Makura Tafi responded, “I must agree with you here. We lack a certain level of discipline and work ethic at a national level, a national character, personality. Japan comes to mind as a nation that exhibits an almost universal discipline and work ethic that is weaved into their education and social fabric.”

Vice President Chiwenga highlighted that the current system treated junior doctors as employees of the Ministry of Health and Child Care yet they would not have completed training and that when somebody is still and not yet finished medical school cannot be called a junior doctor.

He said that the new regulations would soon be brought before parliament.