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By Tedla Yeneakal - Capital
09 January 2007
VMedical doctors in the country, who have been in direct negotiations with relevant officials of the government, are on the brink of sealing an agreement to get benefits such as house provision allowance and untaxed professional benefits from the Ministry of Health, sources disclosed.
Young doctors, who are due to graduate this year have been engaged in talks with Minister of Health, Dr. Tewodros Adehanom and Minister of Capacity Building, Tefera Walewa for the last couple of months, on issues relating to a raise in salary as well as getting their credentials at hand upon graduation. The government retains their degree even after graduation unless they complete the required social service in the country by working under the Ministry of Health.
However, their demand was not welcomed by Minister Tefera, who responded
in the previous meetings held that although their service is appreciated,
it is very difficult to increase their pay as hospitals and health institutions
in the country are not profitable sectors and additional subsidy by the government
would be unaffordable.
About four weeks ago, all interns of the graduating class numbering 56 met
with the Health Minister, Dr. Tewodros, who asked the doctors to suggest ways
in which their demands could be met and their credentials given to them upon
graduation.
The doctors proposed several ways in which this could happen, including an arrangement with the Ministry of Health to sign an agreement that they present a guarantee in terms of money or a binding court statement proving that they would be engaged in the social services they are mandated to conduct after they receive their credentials. Upon hearing their proposals, the Minister requested a period of three weeks so that he could confer with his colleagues and reach a final decision.
Accordingly, Dr. Tewodros met the representatives last Wednesday, December 27 at his office to tell them that his Ministry accepted their proposal, which requires them to present a guarantee engaging them to a commitment that they would stay in the country and perform their required social service.
More importantly, according to sources, the Minister promised the doctors that the Ministry is conducting a study to offer them house allowances; by either renting a house for them or to give them a separate allowance for rent. In addition, Dr. Tewodros assured them that they will be privileged with untaxed professional allowances, bearing in mind long term incentives to prevent them from departing the country.
Dr. Tewodros told Capital that he would rather reveal the details once the
negotiations are finalized and made practical. “If you say we are going to
do this and that with details and one of the elements do not materialize,
it would disappoint the health professionals,” he said. “I would unveil the
details of their benefits once everything is finalized. The issue is quite
complex as it involves arrangements with all the regions.”
According to official data, Ethiopia trained 2,491 general practitioners between
1988 and 2001, but in recent year’s, one-third have already left the country
seeking better employment opportunities in North America, Europe and South
Africa. The country also lingers at the bottom in world rankings of health
professional ratios as Ethiopia can only boast one doctor for every 34,000
people and one nurse for every 4,900 people.