2024-02-29 17:30:00
While the Government Council met this Thursday for its weekly work, the streets of the capital were agitated. A wave of general strike in the health sector paralyzed the proper functioning of hospital infrastructure, revealing persistent tensions between the Ministry of Health and health professionals.
© Mounir Mehimdate
This congestion, the result of “ the inability of the supervisory ministry to respect its promises“, was accompanied by the boycott of courses, exams and hospital internships by students in general medicine, dentistry and pharmacy for more than two months. The latter organized a major sit-in in front of parliament this Thursday, expressing their dissatisfaction with several unilateral decisions taken by their authorities.
During the weekly press conference following the work of the Government Council, Mustapha Baitas, government spokesperson, was questioned regarding the strike of 25,000 medical students. In response to this question, Baitas considered that the press conference recently organized by the Ministers of Higher Education and Health responded to the various elements concerning this subject.
© Mounir Mehimdate
« For strikes or social dialogue, whether general or sectoral, this government has shown itself to be one of the governments most invested in these dialogues. You attended the signing of the government’s agreement with the unions. You also observed what was concluded in several sectors. So the government will continue to work according to this path and this approach, which consists of the same positive commitment, dialogues and attempts to resolve the problems which have lasted too long.“, he concluded on this subject.
At the same time, medical students were in a giant sit-in in front of Parliament in Rabat. Abdelhakim Ouaâdou, Secretary General of the National Commission of Students in General Medicine, Dental and Pharmacy, expressed their demands and told Hespress FR what ” this national descent comes following recent media statements from the two ministries which contain several sophisms and misleading information which mislead public opinion“. He then listed the students’ main demands.
© Mounir Mehimdate
« We refuse the reduction of training years from 7 to 6 years, a decision taken unilaterally and which occurs within the framework of a strategy of which we do not know the contours and which is not appropriate. In addition, we demand a second cycle that is clear and adapted to basic medical studies, in order to guarantee the competence of future specialists. Finally, we are also demonstrating for fair compensation, taking into account the economic reality of the country. How is it that a medical student, who will soon begin his field placements in university, regional and provincial hospitals, still receives 21 Dhs“, he confided, calling on Moroccans to show solidarity.
© Mounir Mehimdate
« If we are coming out today, it is to defend the right to a better quality of medical training, and your rights to a better quality of care that meets your aspirations. So be with us, with the children of the people“, he said.
© Mounir Mehimdate
As for the alleged open dialogue with the supervisory authority, Ouaâdou denied: “ This is 100% incorrect information. The last meeting which took place with the two supervisory ministries, in the presence of the Deans of the faculties and the teachers’ unions, was held at the request of the Commission. The latter took the initiative to reopen the dialogue once more to try to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. So the commission sticks to its principle according to which, if a dialogue is planned, it is ready to participate in it and to dialogue to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.« .
© Mounir Mehimdate
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