After intense negotiations between government officials and medical union representatives, a landmark agreement has been reached that addresses long-standing demands from the country’s healthcare workforce. This resolution was announced during the 94th session of the Council of Ministers, presented by the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana, acting on behalf of the absent Minister of Public Health, Samuel Roger Kamba, who was in Bunia (Ituri) on official duty.

The breakthrough comes after multiple rounds of discussions held on June 23, 2026 at the Ministry of Finance and July 7, 2026 at the Ministry of Public Health, culminating in a framework that satisfies core professional requirements while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Key commitments secured

• Full integration of all supplementary allowances into official payroll systems starting Q3 2026
• Alignment program for 200 physicians to match national salary scales
• Priority treatment for healthcare sector mechanization initiatives within public administration reforms
• Expedited processing of administrative cases for doctors under special regimes (National Police, Armed Forces, Higher Education)
• Payroll cleansing initiative to eliminate ghost workers and ensure accurate compensation

In a show of good faith and commitment to continued dialogue, the government has also pledged to review broader medical professional alignment in August 2026. These developments follow weeks of heightened tensions where the Syndicat National des Médecins (Synamed) escalated industrial action through the ‘Hospitals Without Doctors’ campaign, threatening critical services nationwide.

The medical unions have now called off their strike action, recognizing the government’s demonstrated willingness to address their concerns. Speaking to journalists, Minister Tshimanga Bwana confirmed that ‘the coordination of health syndicates has decided to lift their strike movement following these significant advances.’

Context and resolution

The government’s swift response came after Synamed’s leadership declared the ‘Hospitals Without Doctors’ operation would run from July 7-16 across all provinces except Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The action targeted facilities while maintaining emergency services and blood banks, with urgent cases redirected to designated hospitals. Union leaders had previously accused authorities of failing to honor prior agreements and neglecting dialogue despite presidential directives.

This agreement marks a pivotal moment for healthcare governance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signaling both government responsiveness and professional solidarity in addressing systemic challenges within the medical sector.