In the nation’s capital, a group of medical doctors servicing federal hospitals has walked off the job, embarking on an indefinite strike that effectively halts public health services in several facilities. Their action comes after repeated pleas for improved working conditions, better welfare packages, and fulfillment of agreements made with relevant authorities went unanswered.
The doctors had warned earlier that unless their demands for hazard allowances, staff promotions, emergency allowances, and up-to-date salaries were met, they would down tools. Frustrations boiled over as promises made during previous negotiations remained unfulfilled. When talks failed to yield concrete action, the decision to strike became their recourse.
Hospital managers attempted to maintain minimal services for emergencies, but in many locations, operations grinding to a near-standstill proved unavoidable. Patients with non-urgent needs are being turned away; scheduled clinic visits and elective surgeries are postponed indefinitely. The disruption is affecting both locals and those who traveled to the city specifically for medical attention.
Public reaction is mixed. Some citizens express empathy, acknowledging the doctors’ long-standing grievances. Others worry about the health risks, especially for vulnerable patients who depend on public health facilities. Criticism is mounting that delays in meeting demands disproportionately harm ordinary people without access to private medical care.
Government representatives responded, acknowledging receipt of the doctors’ striking notice and affirming the intention to review the areas of discontent. Officials say preliminary steps will be taken to engage the striking doctors in renewed dialogue, though no firm timetable has been published for resolution.
Meanwhile, the health workers insist that only comprehensive action—beyond mere promises—will bring them back to work. They emphasize that their refusal to resume duties is not a desire to abandon patients, but a last resort in the face of systemic neglect.
As hospitals across the Federal Capital Territory await clarity, the indefinite strike continues, leaving public health services in a precarious state while both sides face pressure to find common ground before harm to patients escalates.
