The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a landmark agreement with health sector unions, bringing an end to a prolonged medical strike that had crippled the country’s healthcare system. The breakthrough was announced following intense negotiations that culminated in significant concessions from the government.
In a landmark announcement during the 94th Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi, the government outlined a series of sweeping reforms aimed at addressing the longstanding grievances of medical professionals. The meeting, held on Friday, July 10, 2026, was attended by key cabinet members, including the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana, who represented the absent Minister of Public Health, Samuel Roger Kamba, currently on mission in Ituri.
Government capitulates to key medical demands
The historic accord includes several major concessions:
- Full integration of all supplementary allowances into salary payments beginning in the third quarter of 2026, ensuring financial security for healthcare workers
- Alignment of 200 physicians across various public health services, addressing disparities in compensation
- Prioritization of healthcare sector in government mechanization initiatives, signaling a commitment to modernizing medical infrastructure
- Expedited processing of administrative documents for doctors under special regimes, including the National Police, Armed Forces, and higher education institutions
- Enhanced payroll management through the sanitation of personnel records to eliminate ghost workers and ensure accurate compensation
« The government has committed to reviewing alignment for other medical professional categories in August 2026, » announced Tshimanga Bwana, who also serves as Acting Minister of Public Health.
Strike suspended after breakthrough negotiations
In response to these unprecedented concessions, the health sector unions have decided to suspend their « Hospitals Without Doctors » strike campaign, which was scheduled to paralyze medical services nationwide from July 7 to 16, 2026. The action had been planned for all provinces except Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where emergency services were to remain operational.
The decision to suspend the strike follows extensive negotiations that began with a meeting between government representatives and union leaders at the Ministry of Finance on June 23, 2026, followed by further discussions at the Ministry of Public Health on July 7, 2026.
« Given the substantial progress made in these talks, the medical unions have agreed to lift their strike action, » confirmed the government spokesperson during the Council meeting. This decision comes after weeks of escalating tensions when the National Union of Doctors (SYNAMED) intensified their protest by implementing a partial work stoppage, citing unmet government commitments and a lack of constructive dialogue.
Emergency measures during the strike period
During the planned strike, only emergency services and blood banks were to remain operational, with urgent cases redirected to designated hospitals. SYNAMED had called on its members to maintain their mobilization until all demands were met, warning that the strike would continue if the government failed to honor its promises.
The resolution of this crisis represents a significant victory for the medical community and a critical step toward restoring confidence in the DRC’s healthcare system. The government’s willingness to address these longstanding issues through meaningful concessions demonstrates a renewed commitment to improving public health services across the country.
