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DOCTORS engaging in the ongoing “wildcat” strike were breaching their ethical codes of conduct and could face dismissal and being struck off the roll for negligence, the health professions’ governing body has said.

Strongly criticising the protest action, which began in KwaZulu- Natal and Mthatha this week, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPSCSA) yesterday said the doctors were acting in an unethical and inappropriate manner that amounted to gross neglect of their core duties – caring for patients.

Saying they would move swiftly to dish out appropriate penalties to professionals for neglect resulting in complications or the loss of life, HPCSA registrar advocate Boyce Mkhize told the Dispatch that the action was a breach of ethical codes of conduct and the Hippocratic Oath, as well as labour legislation.

“They will have to bear the consequences of their actions.

“We will investigate any complaints of neglect and take a decision against the professionals, which can range from a warning to dismissal, and erasure from the register, ” Mkhize said.

On Monday, heeding calls to engage in the strike to protest against the government’s delay in meeting and implementing salary increments and other doctors’ demands, 160 on-call doctors at the Mthatha’s Nelson Mandela Academic Complex went on strike, along with hundreds of doctors in KwaZulu-Natal. Yesterday the strike, unsanctioned by the South African Medical Association (Sama) and other professional bodies, gripped hospitals across the Transkei, with doctors vowing to stay away from work until the issues had been resolved.

“Right now we are not worried about any threats. We want the department to meet its obligations to us so that we can get back to work,” Mthatha Hospital’s Dr Ntandazo Puzi said.

He said they would stay away from work for as long as the government dragged on the negotiation process .

The strike is a result of a breakdown in negotiations between the government and Sama over the awarding of salary increments, with the government offering five percent and doctors demanding 50 percent.

Doctors are also calling for improved conditions of service and the filling of critical vacant posts.

Mkhize said: “We understand and fully acknowledge the critical concerns around the issues of inadequate compensation and improved working conditions for public sector doctors, and once again make an urgent call to all concerned to find a speedy and amicable resolution to these genuine concerns.”

In Durban, a total of 450 public sector doctors protested outside the Nelson R Mandela Medical School .

They vowed to wear red and protest in silence today.

“We will stand here tomorrow (today) and there will be no singing out of respect for those patients dying and suffering from HIV/Aids and TB,” said Dr Rinesh Chetty.

Chetty was addressing the doctors at the Nelson R Mandela Medical School on the second day of the strike by public sector doctors.

“Doctors will show their compassion by wearing red on Wednesday because we want government to take HIV and Aids seriously.”

Chetty said the strike was not only about wages, but also about the deteriorating conditions they had to work under . - By NTANDO MAKHUBU, Health Reporter — Additional reporting by Sapa