Absenteeism among doctors at the Beira Central Hospital (HCB) is on the rise, and there are suspicions that they have joined the strike announced by the Mozambican Medical Association (AMM).

HCB has 182 doctors and absence rates are around 15%. On Monday, 15 doctors were absent, on Wednesday, 13 doctors and the following day, 16 doctors.

However, the situation remains under control, except for the outpatient services, which are experiencing some overload, said HCB's Director General, Nelson Mucopo, quoted by the newspaper News. He assured that the emergency services, aid bank, intensive care and operating theaters are running smoothly.

Faced with the situation of absences, the HCB administration says it is proceeding as usual, marking absences that are unjustifiable in the first place. Mucopo said that there is a risk that the absent doctors will face disciplinary action.

"We're talking about discounts on absences, retirement depending on the number of absences, including expulsion from the state apparatus," he said.

He believes that the doctors who have been absent are being coerced by the AMM, threatening them to leave. He estimates that some of those targeted are working for fear of reprisals, but in return they are not signing the time book.

It seems that the wave of absenteeism is only happening at the HCB, since, according to the Sofala Provincial Director of Health, Neusa Joel, there has been no adherence to the strike by doctors assigned to districts and other health units. "Everyone is working normally," she said.