The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has truly brought out the best of humanity and exposed the immorality of the capitalist system. Since the outbreak in December 2019 we have witnessed the heroism of healthcare workers in fighting the disease across the world. We pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price and salute those who continue to put their own lives at risk to fight the spread of the disease and to provide life-saving services to treat the sick in clinics, hospitals and their homes.
The outbreak of the pandemic has also exposed the elevation of profit above human life by greedy capitalists. This is in a sector of society which is supposed to place the value of human life above all else. The entire health care industry is being run on the principles of private business, which is supposed to make a profit, rather than the provision of a basic human right.
The health industry has known for decades the impact coronaviruses can have on humans. Pharmaceutical companies have, especially in the wake of the 2008 world financial crisis, however refused to do significant research into the development of vaccines against coronaviruses. This is despite the devastating effects of previous outbreaks. In the period September 2012 to November 2019, 2494 cases of infection with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-Cov) were reported. 858 deaths in 27 countries were recorded in the same period. After these outbreaks receded there was simply no more profit to be made from developing vaccines and serious research by pharmaceutical companies came to an abrupt halt. If research continued into developing vaccines for those coronaviruses the world would have been better prepared to develop and roll out a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes the COVID-19 disease.
It became evident that severely affected countries simply cannot provide healthcare for the majority of its citizens. Their healthcare systems have been drastically weakened due to annual decreases in government spending on health. Wealthy people in those countries have for some time now opted to take out private healthcare. The vast majority have however been forced to depend on fragile healthcare systems. While the virus affects rich and poor alike only the rich are able to afford quality private healthcare, while the labouring classes are made to wait in line for treatment.
As at 8 April 2020 the official worldwide infection rate surpassed the 1.4 million mark and the number of deaths exceed 78,000. An increasing number of healthcare workers who are at the frontline of fighting the disease are becoming infected and have made the ultimate sacrifice. Business Insider of 4 March 2020 indicated that nearly 3,400 Chinese healthcare workers were infected and 13 have died. On 18 March Al Jazeera online reported that at least 2,629 healthcare workers have been infected by the coronavirus since the outbreak in Italy in February. The Mail Online of 3 April reports that this figure increased to 6,205 and more than 60 doctors have lost their lives.
South African Health Workers’ Fight-back
In South Africa the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 by 8 April have exceeded the 1,700 mark and 13 people have died as a result of the virus. The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on 28 March 2020 that a total of 13 healthcare workers have been infected. On 31 March the disease also claimed the life of world renowned scientist and HIV-AIDS activist, Professor Gita Ramjee.
These figures paint a grim picture of the devastation caused by COVID-19 and the plight of healthcare workers. Hospitals and clinics have for years been understaffed and underfunded. Hospitals and clinics could become new epicentres of spreading the disease as more people who are infected seek medical healthcare. With healthcare workers already having to work long hours under extreme pressure, the risk of infection becomes greater. There is also a huge shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and no indication that sufficient supplies will be made available in the short term.
In addition to poor working conditions, healthcare workers also have to face the repression of the state machinery. The Daily Maverick reported on 3 April that two doctors in Limpopo who were in self-isolation were forcefully removed from their house and placed in quarantine in a state hospital. After testing positive for COVID-19 they followed the national protocol to self-isolate. However, the MEC for Health accused them of bringing the virus into Limpopo province from Mpumalanga where they work. She obtained a court order forcing them to be detained in a provincial quarantine facility. On 31 March Times Live reported that two nurses who work at Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom were injured when police shot them with rubber bullets. The incident took place when nurses were protesting about arrangements to transport them during the lockdown period.
As with Marikana, the state prefers to repress workers’ legitimate demands. Workers are left with no choice but to resist and fight back.
- All healthcare workers demand:
- free public transportation;
- personal protection equipment;
- sufficient training in the use of personal protection equipment to prevent infection;
- reduction of their working hours without a reduction in their wages.
Healthcare workers reject with contempt the government actions that neglect these necessary requirements for workers to do their work. Workers are not willing to be sacrificial lambs who are expected to make a dysfunctional health system appear to be functional.
- Labour legislation and regulations must be changed to provide for adequate health facilities and sufficient healthcare workers, to provide progressive healthcare in South Africa.
The systematic cuts in healthcare budgets, as part of state austerity measures are directly responsible for the parlous state of healthcare in SA. Healthcare workers – through their representative organisations – must have their demands incorporated in all healthcare legislation.
- Democratically elected Worker Committees must urgently combine forces with trade unions in all workplaces. Together they must
- Agitate for decent and appropriate working conditions
- Establish linkages with progressive community and political organisations
The struggles of healthcare workers cannot be fought in isolation. The fragmentation in the trade union movement must be countered through unity in struggle. Independent, self organisation of healthcare workers is important for the struggles of all workers and peasants in SA.