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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Health & Science

SYMECO demands direct dialogue with government to end doctors' strike

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Syndicate of Doctors of Congo (SYMECO) is demanding direct dialogue with the government to end the ongoing strike.
  • Doctors cite a lack of concrete progress in recent negotiations regarding pay, arrears, and professional risk premiums.
  • SYMECO urges doctors to remain mobilized while seeking public support for their legitimate demands.

The Syndicate of Doctors of Congo (SYMECO) has called on the government to engage in sincere and direct dialogue to resolve the strike that is currently disrupting public health services across the Democratic Republic of Congo. The strike began on July 3.

The working sessions of June 23, 2026, and July 7 did not meet all expectations.

— Dr. Juvénal MuandaExpressing dissatisfaction with the progress of negotiations between SYMECO and the government.

Dr. Juvénal Muanda, the Secretary General of SYMECO, expressed regret over the absence of concrete progress following working sessions held on June 23 and July 7 with government authorities. He stated that these discussions failed to address the primary demands of public sector doctors. Key issues include delays in the full integration of supplementary pay for the third quarter of 2026, payment of accumulated arrears, the resumption of regular risk premium payments, and administrative regularization processes.

a patriotic surge is still possible to stop the harmful consequences of this strike which continues in all state public health services.

— Dr. Juvénal MuandaAppealing for a resolution to the ongoing doctors' strike.

"The working sessions of June 23, 2026, and July 7 did not meet all expectations," Dr. Muanda declared. He emphasized that "a patriotic surge is still possible to stop the harmful consequences of this strike which continues in all state public health services." Despite the ongoing strike, SYMECO maintains its commitment to social dialogue and requests the government to open "direct and sincere dialogue" with the four syndical organizations representing doctors. The goal is to restore trust and find a lasting solution to the crisis in the health sector.

direct and sincere dialogue

— SYMECOThe core demand of the Syndicate of Doctors of Congo to the government.

SYMECO has also urged public sector doctors to remain mobilized, vigilant, and disciplined in observing the strike, while respecting the laws of the Republic. The syndicate is seeking public support, asserting that the doctors' demands are for the defense of their "legitimate and legal" interests. The continuation of this social movement is impacting the functioning of public health structures nationwide, as doctors await concrete government commitments to end the crisis.

legitimate and legal

— SYMECODescribing the nature of the doctors' demands.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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