Negotiations between the Ministry of Health and Sinmea took place on Wednesday and Thursday, after doctors announced, on 23 November last, a national strike scheduled for 6-10 December.
The strike of these health professionals aims to demand a "special remuneration system, payment of subsidies, better working conditions, lifting the suspension of its president", among others.
This Friday, in an interview with Lusa, Adriano Manuel pointed out "lack of seriousness" on the part of the employer during the negotiation rounds, saying that initially there were signs of converging points, but later the ministerial entity "said for what was not said".
"What was our surprise on the second day of the negotiations, the Ministry said nothing after accepting the union's proposals, after the union made deep concessions even though the Ministry of Health was going beyond the legal order Angola," he said.
According to the union leader, the doctors even made some concessions, such as "accepting the transfer of the union president to another hospital, as it is in Sinmea's interest not to go on strike, but the employers changed their initial position".
Adriano Manuel, pediatrician and president of Sinmea, has been suspended from exercising his role for a year and six months, after denouncing the death of around 20 children in two days at the Pediatric Hospital of Luanda, where he worked.
The lifting of his suspension is one of the points set out in the union body's claim book sent to the employer on September 20, 2021.
For Adriano Manuel, the non-research of his disciplinary process by the Ministry of Health, "even after all the irregularities of this body have been proven", could facilitate his expulsion from the civil service if he were to work in another health unit.
"So, we understood that the suggestion of the hospitals where we would have to work was a way for, eventually, the union president to exercise unionism and another disciplinary process would be instituted so that he would later be expelled from the civil service and the union cannot accept this situation," he pointed out.
"Another issue is the lack of seriousness and respect of the Ministry of Health in relation to Angolan doctors. I note that during the negotiations three fundamental elements for the negotiations withdrew from the table to participate in a television program", concluded Adriano Manuel.
The health professionals deliberated the strike for five days and while the strike lasts "minimal services will be provided in the emergency and intensive care banks, but the activities of infirmary and external consultations will be suspended".
