THE Health Department has asked doctors to stop threatening to strike and to work with them to implement the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD). The department said threats of strike action therefore go against the spirit and commitments made by the parties in implementing the OSD. The department urged any dissatisfied party to work with it in resolving any problems encountered in this process. It said the important work of delivering quality healthcare to those who desperately needed it should continue undisturbed. The SA Medical Association (Sama) has complained that salary payments under the OSD have been poorly managed. Some doctors have been underpaid, while others have been overcompensated beyond their salaries and had had to pay money back to the state. The department said it was "working closely with doctor unions" to solve problems. The department was encouraged by the fact that so far well over 96% of the process had been successfully implemented and the few remaining cases under dispute were receiving attention.

SAPA, 2 March 2010