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{
"id": 1402216,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1402216/?format=api",
"text_counter": 285,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Maanzo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13589,
"legal_name": "Maanzo Daniel Kitonga",
"slug": "maanzo-daniel-kitonga"
},
"content": "When it comes to training doctors, education is still a national function and, therefore, squarely lies on the Cabinet Secretary for Health. A doctor goes for training at the university for six years to study Medicine. By the time they graduate, they are already doctors. The only other technicality left is a little bit of experience as the requirement because of an apprenticeship of working with a qualified doctor for some time, so that you can learn more or polish your skills. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, dealing with health and people’s lives is very delicate. You cannot come straight from the classroom and operate as a surgeon. You cannot come straight from the classroom and be a neurosurgeon. You have to work with other surgeons and apply all your skills, just like a pilot does or the practice of Law. Therefore, when it comes to doctors, there was an agreement that they were already working. By the conduct of the two contracting parties, that is, the Government and the doctors, there is already an implied contract, and you are already working. So, when it comes to bargaining, then the two sides should meet and agree. You may not necessarily implement the previous agreements or existing agreements fully. However, you can increase and the Government can agree, so that the doctors--- Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you know in negotiations, it is give and take. However, the current negotiations of the striking doctors, it is one of dictatorship. You are supposed to surrender everything. There is no give and take. Therefore, that does not amount to negotiations. It is a matter for which the Inspector of General (IG) and the police unit have not apologised. Shooting a doctor who was striking, injuring him and having him end up in the hospital was a criminal offence by whoever officer did it. We want to follow the constitution. Article 37 of the Constitution has not been suspended. One can pick it reasonably and the doctors have been reasonable. They are dressed well and you can identify them. They have vuvuzelas, no guns, stones or anything that can injure anybody. Therefore, they should be allowed to continue picketing till their demands are met. You cannot also train a doctor overnight and the training of a doctor is specialized. It is not one of those careers where you can take shortcuts or have fake papers, as the President has confirmed that most people working for county governments and national Government have fake papers. Some Cabinet Secretaries by their conduct, talk and the way they have explained how they acquired their degrees, some investigations need to be conducted. If there are fake Cabinet Secretaries, who carry fake papers, they have already been told by the President to resign. Therefore, the matter of striking doctors is very serious. We support them. Let them lobby till they get something reasonable for their livelihood."
}