Junior Physicians in Madagascar Join Youth-Led Demonstrations As Angry Over Low Pay and Unfavorable Health Conditions Increases
In Antananarivo, medical students and junior physicians staged a march to demand improved facilities and compensation as discontent grows against President Rajoelina.
Tuesday, a day after President Andry Rajoelina named a new prime minister, protests raged on throughout Madagascar, with the healthcare industry being particularly affected.
The nation’s largest public hospital, Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Hospital, saw hundreds of medical students and young physicians leave and march in the direction of the Ministry of Health in Antananarivo.
When the group was stopped by police a few meters from the ministry, the protest became tense. Negotiations lasted almost an hour before security personnel used tear gas to scatter the demonstrators.
The demonstrators, who included medical students and junior physicians, demanded better working conditions and a more robust healthcare system. The quality of care in Madagascar is quite low, so we are doing this for the Malagasy people,” one demonstrator stated. “We won’t go back to work until our demands are fulfilled.”
According to reports, medical students in Madagascar make about 25 cents an hour, while junior doctors make about €100 a month, or about €1 per hour. They want their monthly salary to be raised to €240.
“The only way to characterize the current state of affairs is that it is extremely precarious in terms of infrastructure and equipment. According to Dr. Santatra Andriamanantsoa, “in certain hospitals, doctors see between 50 and even 100 patients.”
Junior physicians in public hospitals have canceled minimum service in protest to the subpar circumstances, further taxing the nation’s already precarious healthcare system.
The turmoil follows President Rajoelina’s attempt to stabilize his government by appointing a new prime minister from the military. The president also announced preparations for a “national dialogue” with a number of groups on Wednesday, in response to a 48-hour ultimatum from young demonstrators who want reforms or a statewide strike.
