DRC health sector strike ends after government agreement
Government reaches agreement with doctors, ending health sector strike
- Health
The Congolese government has secured a breakthrough agreement with medical professionals following intensive negotiations that concluded on Friday. In a cabinet meeting chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana announced key concessions that address the core demands of striking doctors.
During the deliberations held on 23 June at the Ministry of Finance and 7 July at the Ministry of Public Health, both parties reached consensus on several critical measures. These include the full integration of salary supplements into official payrolls starting Q3 2026, the alignment of 200 physicians’ salaries, and prioritization of the health sector in public service mechanization initiatives.
The government further committed to expedite administrative processing for doctors under special regimes, including those serving with the National Police (PNC), Armed Forces (FARDC), and Higher Education sector. Additional measures involve cleaning up the payroll system to eliminate ghost workers and improve salary management.
Looking ahead, both parties agreed to review alignment of other medical professional categories in August 2026, Minister Tshimanga Bwana confirmed. In light of these developments, the health workers’ union coordination has decided to call off the nationwide strike that had been in effect since early July.
The strike, which began as the “Hospitals Without Doctors” campaign from 7-16 July (excluding Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces), had severely disrupted healthcare services. Only emergency units and blood banks remained operational during this period, with urgent cases redirected to designated facilities. The Synamed union had maintained its position pending government action on their demands.
This resolution marks a significant step toward restoring normalcy in the DRC’s healthcare system while addressing longstanding grievances about working conditions and compensation in the medical sector.