South Sudan Doctors Salary Reform
In a live Dawn Show interview on Eye Radio, Union Chair Dr. Zacharia Ajak urged government leaders to align doctors’ pay with East African averages, proposing up to $5,000 monthly for specialists and at least $1,700 for general practitioners.
He argued that current earnings of 100,000-150,000 South Sudanese pounds—about $100-$150—cannot sustain families or motivate talent.
South Sudan Health Budget Debate
Dr. Ajak appealed to Parliament to raise the Ministry of Health allocation, stressing that salary adjustments require a larger, predictable envelope. Legislative hearings on the 2025⁄26 budget are expected later this month, according to parliamentary schedules.
Medical Brain Drain in South Sudan
The union fears that inadequate remuneration accelerates migration of skilled clinicians to neighboring Kenya and Uganda, leaving understaffed public hospitals struggling to deliver services.
“Retaining specialists is cheaper than training new ones abroad,” Dr. Ajak said, warning of rising recruitment costs for expatriate staff if the trend continues.
South Sudan Maternal Mortality Statistics
World Health Organization data list a maternal mortality ratio of 789 deaths per 100,000 live births, while infant mortality is 60 per 1,000. These figures remain among the globe’s highest despite steady peace-time investments since 2018.
The Health Pooled Fund notes that reaching a facility often fails to guarantee adequate care, owing partly to shortages of personnel and essential drugs.
Government Response to Doctors Union
Ministry officials have yet to release an official statement, though sources in Juba signal a willingness to review allowances during the upcoming budget session, citing “the need for sustainable incentives” for frontline workers.
Analysts view the union’s proposal as a negotiating baseline; any compromise will balance fiscal realities with an urgent desire to improve health outcomes.