30 Mar 2011

PNG's health minister blames senior management for doctors strike

8:32 am on 30 March 2011

Papua New Guinea's health minister has blamed his departmental head Dr Clement Malau and Secretary for Personnel Management, John Kali, for the strike action by doctors.

Medical doctors throughout PNG walked off their jobs last Friday afternoon.

The paper, the Post Courier reports, Sasa Zibe, saying the senior administrators should be held responsible and should consider their purpose of being in the jobs they hold.

He also accused senior management of being insensitive and not taking the lead in solving the issues.

Mr Zibe says it was unfortunate that the National Doctors Association had opted to take strike action which has severe consequences for the general public.

Meanwhile, John Kali hit back saying the doctors' strike was illegal and in contempt of a court order.

The Department of Personal Management, Attorney General, Public Service Commission and State filed an ex parte court order last Friday to stop the doctors from going on strike because they have not complied with industrial laws.

The matter is schedule to return to court today.