The question on everybody’s lips….Are our junior doctors worth more? My slightly biased opinion? Yes, they are worth a LOT more. Do I believe we in NZ will ever get paid more, with or without striking? I dont think so. And there is my problem with the strike

Anyone who believes striking for 2 days every fortnight will give us what we dream of is doing exactly that….Dreaming. I am all for doctors deserving more, and demanding more. But striking in this manner until we achieve that is nothing but arm twisting and blackmailing at its best. All it will achieve is to cripple the hospital system for a week each time. And I think that is terrible. This country’s waiting lists are bad enough without the doctors adding to the trouble.

I dont believe we as the doctors have exhausted all our other options. I think we still have a lot of mileage to gain by proper negotiations. But in order to achieve that, we need to get rid of the nefarious inbreeding that has become inherent in the doctors association. Sometimes, it feels worse than the kind of inbreeding one would find in a country like India. If the doctors are to achieve any results by negotiating, we need a decent negotiator to start with. Then, a decent PR person. Then, a decent PR campaign. The kind the nurses had in their pay dispute. Then maybe we will get somewhere.

There is a strong smell of something fishy going on in this strike. And somehow, I dont think that junior doctors are going to benefit from it at the end of the day. Some particular doctors might, but not the junior doctor population en masse.

So that is why I, vehement supporter of more pay for doctors, am also a vehement opposer of the strike. It is a shocking tactic to use, and I dont condone it in any way. And I am ashamed to say that I didnt see the light earlier, for I was one of those who voted FOR the strike. However, better late than never. I hope more doctors see the strike for what it truly is, and not continue to be led along this path. Amen.