Mali: Hospital employees' strike underway Sept. 6-8

Event

Three unions representing hospital employees have called for a 72-hour strike Sept. 6-8, to denounce alleged deteriorating working conditions and unions' rights. The strike will notably affect the Point G, Gabriel Toure, and Dermatologie hospitals (former CNAM) in Bamako.

The unions will likely hold further actions Sept. 13-16 if their demands are not met.

The action will likely cause disruptions to the aforementioned hospital operations and possibly in other hospitals in Bamako. Public healthcare institutions could limit their services to treating only emergency cases. Spillover disruptions are also possible at private clinics and hospitals due to increased demand as patients seek other treatment options. Related protests cannot be ruled out in the vicinity of hospitals or public institutions.

Advice

Monitor local sources for updates on the status of the strike. Confirm all medical appointments, including the availability of services at public health institutions due to the potential for increased demand. If possible, contact healthcare facilities in advance for information about wait times, which could vary greatly among hospitals and clinics. Avoid all related protests as a precaution.