Healthcare workers are at risk of poor working conditions in many countries in the coronavirus pandemic, Amnesty International said. In some states, they can even face reprisals if they point out grievances. This emerges from a report released today by the human rights organization.
Protective clothing and adequate wages are often lacking. In some countries, doctors, nurses and other workers have been arrested or otherwise pressured after complaining.
Repressions when there is a defect
According to the Amnesty report, there were reports of lack of protective clothing in almost all of the 63 countries and regions considered. How many healthcare workers worldwide have died of Covid-19 is not known. Amnesty has had 3,000 deaths in 79 countries, but the real number is likely to be far higher. Pay is often bad. According to the report, state doctors in South Sudan have not received a salary since February.
In Malaysia, for example, a peaceful demonstration by cleaners was broken up, according to the report, and several participants were arrested. In Egypt, several healthcare workers have been charged with the very broad “spreading false news” and “terrorism”.
In Russia, too, two women doctors were threatened with consequences after complaining about the lack of protective equipment. An employee of a nursing home in the USA lost her job after asking for more protective clothing via Facebook.
„Silence critical voices“
Amnesty expert Sanhita Ambast described such reprisals as „particularly disturbing“. Healthcare workers were the first to notice misguided government measures. „If the authorities try to silence critical voices, their claim to do everything for public health quickly turns into a farce,“ said Ambast.
