Radar | Sep 10,2023
Jun 5 , 2021
By HAWI DADHI
Medical professionals of Black Lion Hospital, including resident physicians and nurses, went on a strike, bemoaning inadequate pay for COVID-19 frontline staff, delayed duty payments and a lack of medical supplies. Nurses were the most aggrieved as payments of duty for the past four months were not paid, and the risk payment was inadequate and unevenly distributed, sources disclosed to Fortune.
Risk payments to be paid for frontline staff facing COVID-19 were released in May of last year, allowing them to be paid for risking their lives based on the number of hours they put up. However, some were paid as low as 1,700 Br while others received up to 17,000 Br, said some of the nurses who protested on May 31, 2021. The nurses' discontent resulted from the low payment, which does not add up with the standards set forth by the Ministry of Health.
The nurses believe they should get up to 60,000 Br for 96 days of work, which all nurses have signed up for, Fortunelearnt.
"We understand if they don't have the budget to pay the full amount," said a nurse working at Black Lion. "But it should have been distributed evenly."
The Ministry of Health has so far settled partially settled payments to non-permanent resident staff, with staff receiving as high as 17,000 Br, while nurses are yet to receive a formal response.
"It happens frequently, and we convey our complaints every time, but we haven't gone unpaid this long," said a nurse. Duty payment is calculated based on the hourly rate of gross salary multiplied by the amount of time spent on duty.
The nurses should place a complaint, and they have been told the administration will address it as it deems appropriate upon review, according to Tesfaye Solomon, communications director of Black Lion Hospital, the largest specialised hospital in the country for having 1,000 beds. Established in 1972, the Black Lion has 3,400 employees of which 700 are health professionals and 1,200 staff such as nurses and lab technicians.
The Hospital also has more than 900 permanent and contract administration staff to support its operations.
These professionals also depicted how the grave shortage of medical equipment has severely affected the provision of health services in the hospital. They have faced a severe shortage of medical gloves and other pharmaceutical supplies such as laboratory tests and the overcrowding of care units. There have also been reports of shortages of disposable products such as medical cotton, gloves and alcohol. The Hospital has recognised the issue and is holding talks with government officials to find solutions, Tesfaye told Fortune.
A contributing factor for the drastic shortage of medical gloves can be attributed to high demand and exorbitant increase in prices and defects found in a huge supply of gloves.
"There is no denying that a nationwide shortage of medical supplies has been prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced," said Seife Demissie, pharmaceuticals supply director at the Addis Abeba Health Bureau. "But it isn't as severe as implied."
The Bureau and the City Administration have spent up to 1.3 billion Br, in addition to the regular health budget, to aid health equipment provision for hospitals.
"The existing health system was not ready to accommodate an emergency response," said Seife, adding that improper budget use is partly to blame for equipment shortages.
PUBLISHED ON
Jun 05,2021 [ VOL
22 , NO
1101]
Radar | Sep 10,2023
Fortune News | May 02,2020
Radar | Dec 17,2022
Fortune News | Nov 16,2019
Fortune News | Nov 13,2021
Viewpoints | Jul 13,2020
Commentaries | Aug 26,2023
Radar | Feb 25,2023
Fortune News | Jul 08,2023
Commentaries | Nov 13,2021
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
May 11 , 2024
The ruling Prosperity Party - the Prosperitians - has its leaders turned to the Publi...
May 2 , 2024
For successive generations of Ethiopia's tax authorities, the chore of tax collection...
Apr 27 , 2024
The Prosperity Party (PP) - Prosperitians - is charting a course through treacherous...
Apr 20 , 2024
In a departure from its traditionally opaque practices, the National Bank of Ethiopia...