Doctors in Tunisia go on strike, claiming the health system is about to fail

The country of Tunisia was rocked by a wave of social unrest on Wednesday, when thousands of young doctors went on strike to demand better pay and warn that the health system was about to fall apart.

President Kais Saied’s biggest problem since taking power in 2021 has been a wave of anti-government and environmental protests caused by a growing economic crisis and problems with public services.

Overworked, underpaid, and working in a system that is breaking down, Marwa, who wouldn’t give her last name, told hundreds of other doctors at a protest gathering in Tunis, the capital.

“If nothing changes, more doctors will leave and the crisis will only deepen,” she stated.

Protesters in white coats held signs that said “Dignity for doctors” and “Save our hospitals” as they met near Tunisia’s parliament.

Protesters said that as well as low wages, there was a lack of modern medical equipment and basic medical supplies, which they said was making more and more young health workers leave for Europe and the Gulf.

In an interview with Reuters, Wajih Dhakkar, leader of the Young Doctors’ Organization, said, “As long as the authorities ignore our demands, we will continue to escalate, resist, and lead the social movement in the country.”

A message asking the Health Ministry for response was not answered right away.

What President Saied calls “conspirators and infiltrators” are responsible for creating problems in different areas to bring down the government.

Recently, Tunisian bank and bus workers went on strike over pay, and the city of Gabes in the south has been the center of protests over pollution caused by a state-owned chemical plant.