The Cameroon Doctors’ Trade Union, SYMEC is calling on all doctors to observe the second phase of their strike action slated from the 15 to 17 May 2017 throughout the national territory. Cameroonian doctors are demanding a reform of the health system. More specifically, they require the introduction of universal basic health insurance (without categorization and not at a discount) within a short period of time in order to improve the supply of care and to allow equal access in order to end thousands of deaths every year in a country where only the leaders are entitled to medical evacuations.

Trade unionists in the health sector have also denounced the intimidation to which they are subjected and are demanding a salary increment for medics and the payment of state subsidies to private doctors in the form of premiums. The Doctors are also asking the government to raise the retirement age of doctors from 55 to 65 years of age.

According to a timeline, Symec plans to stage an unlimited strike action July 17, in case the actions scheduled for May 15 to 17 and June 12 to 14, 2017, fails to achieve any positive result. Ever since the beginning of the strike a month ago, doctors have faced the intransigence of André Mama Fouda, the Minister of Public Health.

By Rita Akana

Cameroon Intelligence Report