A pregnant North West woman died during the current doctors' strike, Health Minister Barbara Hogan said on Thursday.She said the woman was brought to hospital with birth-related complications last Thursday.
"She had a ruptured uterus and died because she was not attended to," Hogan told reporters in Pretoria.
She said the military health service would be roped in to help in state hospitals should the doctors continue with the strike.
"I have written to the minister of defence in this regard."
Doctors are on strike for pay increases of up to 50 percent as well as for better working conditions.
A set of proposals had been forwarded to the public service co-ordinating bargaining council.
"We believe that the processes are going to be concluded as a matter of urgency. This will demonstrate our commitment to workplace-related democratic processes of finding solutions to the challenges that confront our professionals," Hogan said.
Source : Sapa /mm/ks
Date : 23 Apr 2009 17:05
