This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
Published on June 4, 2020, Sierra Leone's medical doctors are on the brink of a strike over unpaid allowances and incentives.
The Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) issued a 48-hour strike notice to the government, warning of a massive disruption of healthcare services if their demands are not met.
According to the association, allowances for healthcare workers at the forefront of the Covid-19 response are almost non-existent, with PAYE tax deductions being erratic and only paid to some.
The government had previously claimed to have paid tax refunds and risk allowances directly into the bank accounts of all frontline workers since May 29, but the SLMDA described this as a 'farce'.
As of Wednesday, Sierra Leone had recorded 909 Covid-19 cases, and the doctors' strike could further exacerbate the situation.
