Health workers in Tahiti strike for better resources and staffing, impacting hospital operations and patient care.
Health workers strike in Tahiti
In Tahiti and nearby islands, health workers are striking to demand better conditions. At the Taravao hospital, nearly all medical and paramedical staff participated in the strike, though they ensured essential care continued. A message on the picket line read, "We want reinforcements, not speeches," showing their frustration with the situation.Strikes highlight staffing and pay issues
The striking workers are criticizing recent government reforms, which they say have not improved their working conditions. A nurse from the CSTP-FO union said the reforms fail to address understaffing and unpaid overtime. They also noted that exhaustion is affecting the care patients receive, as staff are overworked and stressed.Doctors describe lack of resources
One of the 13 striking doctors said the main problem is a lack of resources. He explained that staff are being asked to do more with fewer resources, which makes the hospital less attractive to new doctors. He also mentioned that staff turnover has increased since he started working there in 2021. To keep the hospital running during the strike, a minimum service level was declared, but he said the hospital is already operating at that level.Emergency workers demand urgent action
Paramedical staff in the emergency department are concerned about the lack of a regulatory framework for pre-hospital emergency care. An employee said they were told no current laws allow for such services at Taravao hospital. They asked, "What are we waiting for to create a real SMUR in the south?" referring to a mobile emergency unit.
