The head of Mauritania's specialist doctors' union, Ahmed Meymine, has called for essential medicines, support for hospitals and better conditions for health workers. He addressed Health Minister Naha Hamdi Mouknass in a letter whose contents were reported by the Alakhbar news agency on Monday, 12 October.
Meymine said shortages of some essential medicines were worsening patients' conditions. He urged the purchase of medicines identified by a specialist committee and their delivery to the health facilities that need them.
He said financial difficulties at some hospitals threatened their ability to provide care and called for continuing support. He also urged faster purchases and delivery of medical equipment, saying hospitals had identified their needs.
His demands include higher pay, better working conditions, the resources needed by staff and closer attention to frontline workers. He also called for continued reorganisation of human resources and the regularisation of staff's administrative status in line with the law.
The union leader criticised frequent changes at the ministry's helm, saying they disrupted the continuity of work and programmes. His letter follows Mouknass's return as health minister in Mokhtar Ould Diay's government under the cabinet appointment decree issued on Saturday, 10 October, according to the Mauritanian News Agency.